Anti-Smuggling Group, Car Firms Team Up Against Smugglers
October 10, 2008 by Tsikot
The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) signed recently an agreement to form an alliance against motor vehicle smugglers.
PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. said the memorandum of agreement (MOA) would help protect the local automotive industry which has been losing billions of pesos due to what he described as unabated smuggling of motor vehicles.“With the signing of this MOA, I see no reason why vehicles smuggling in the country could not be contained. PASG now has a potent ally in the war against this type of smuggling,” Villar said in a statement.
CAMPI president Elizabeth Lee hailed the MOA signing saying “the industry is now assured of an ally that will protect its interest and likewise that of the government.”
“CAMPI benefited much from the successful operations by PASG against big-time car smuggling syndicates last year which prompted President Arroyo to issue a directive banning the importation of second hand vehicles,” a PASG statement said.
“The successful operations likewise put Villar at loggerheads with several politicians suspect to have something to do with the unabated car smuggling in the country that led to a controversial call in the House of Representatives for the abolition of PASG,” the statement said.
Under the agreement, PASG and CAMPI will share information on suspected vehicle smugglers and together, carefully plan anti-smuggling operations as part of the goal to promote the growth and development of the country’s automotive industry.
CAMPI will also provide a team of experts to help PASG on the technical side of scrutinizing seized vehicles.
“We will provide the law enforcement aspect and CAMPI the technical aspect. With two heads now in the war against vehicle smuggling, there is reason to believe everything will be okay in the local automotive manufacturing industry,” Villar said.
Last year, the PASG made a high-profile destruction of millions of pesos worth of smuggled luxury vehicles and sports cars to dissuade syndicates from continuing their operations.
By Paolo Romer, Philippine Star Online
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