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PASG chief, eight others charged before Ombudsman

By Charlie V. Manalo

10/29/2009

Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) Chief Antonio “Bebot” Villar Jr. and eight other officials were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged criminal design in making illegal arrests and seizures over legitimate businesses.

In a 10-page Motion to Admit Evidence Constituting Specific Intent or Knowledge, Identity, Plan, System, Scheme, Habit or Usage of Respondents, evidence were presented against Villar and PASG officials Jeffrey Patawaran, director for administration and finance; Guillermo Francia, director for intelligence; lawyer Luciano Millan, Legal Division member; Ruben Taguba, PASG consultant, Capt. Carl Joseph Jaucian, PO3 Florante Azur, Julie Gamboa and a certain “Joy” who were charged on the basis of an alleged illegal arrest against the logging business of EMCO Plywood Corporation.

The complaint states that everything started on June 30, 2009 when elements of PASG implemented Mission Order No. 0498-2009 against EMCO Plywood Corporation to seize the alleged unlawful importation of plastic resins used in the manufacture of plywood and buying illegally cut logs/timbers and other forest products from their different sources in Loreto, Lapaz and San Luis, Agusan del Sur.

The document was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Briton Alpha Kwok to show the criminal design as to how PASG made up its alleged illegal operations.

Kwok earlier had filed two counts of violation of the anti-graft law in connection with her alleged “illegal arrest” by the PASG after it seized P500 million worth of jewelry, including diamonds, in a raid on her Pasig condominium last Aug. 18.

Kwok formally charged Villar with violating Section 3(e), RA 3019 (also known as The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Article 124 (arbitrary detention), Article 128 (violation of domicile), Article 129 (search warrants maliciously obtained, and abuse in the service of those legally obtained), Article 177 (usurpation of authority or official functions), Article 183 (false testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation), and Article 269 (unlawful arrest) for she claims she is doing a legitimate business in the Philippines.

Lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan, lawyer for Kwok, pointed out that Villar and other PASG officials must be charged before the Sandiganbayan for the crimes they have committed against Kwok and EMCO Plywood Corp.

Alentajan stressed EMCO’s rights were violated by PASG after a memorandum was issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Caraga Region on Aug. 4, 2009 showing the legitimacy of the shipment under the name of Edgardo Sampang, et al. of EMCO Plywood Corp. which was stocked at EMCO compound.

It was also presented that the Sangguniang Bayan of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte asked Gov. Eripe John Amante to take action against PASG in connection with their alleged illegal entry operation inside EMCO.