PASG cries foul over junking of raps vs 'diamond queen'

Irate over the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s dismissal of the charges against "diamond queen" Siu Ting Alpha Kwok, the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) has decided to seek Malacañang's help over the matter. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde admitted that the problem has become a headache for Malacañang after the PASG complained about the DOJ's decision through a report sent to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. “Isa 'yan sa medyo malaking problema ngayon. Siyempre umalma ang PASG sa decision na 'yan ng DOJ. Masasabi ko ang PASG nagpapadala ng report kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na medyo nagreklamo sa desisyon ng DOJ na 'yan," Remonde said on Saturday over government-run dzRB radio. (It is now a big problem for us. The PASG complained about that decision to clear Kwok. The PASG sent a report to Mrs. Arroyo complaining about the decision.) But for now, Remonde said Malacañang could only have the heads of the DOJ and PASG sit down to discuss the issue. “That is why we are urging Sec. (Antonio Jr.) Villar as head of PASG and (DOJ Secretary Agnes) Devanadera to sit down on this issue," he said. Earlier, the DOJ absolved Kwok of violating tax and tariff laws. In a 16-page resolution, the DOJ panel of prosecutors dismissed the charges slapped against Kwok by the PASG, which accused the British national of violating the Tariff and Customs Code and the National Internal Revenue Code. On August 14, 2009, the PASG reported the arrest of Kwok and the seizure of $10.4 million worth of allegedly smuggled diamonds and signature watches from her house in Pasig City. But a radio dzBB report on Friday quoted the DOJ as saying that the charges filed against Kwok were fabricated. The DOJ also questioned why the PASG did not inventory the expensive pieces of jewelry seized from Kwok. But Villar, in an interview on dzRH radio Saturday morning, said the seized items are still stored at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Last September, Kwok filed graft and illegal arrest complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against eight officials of the PASG. PASG chief Villar and seven other officials and operatives of the anti-smuggling group were charged for allegedly arresting Kwok without warrant. Charged along with Villar were Director for Intelligence Guillermo Francia, Luciano Millan of the Legal Division, Capt. Carlo Joseph Jaucian, PO3 Florante Azur, operative Julie Gamboa, and consultant Ruben Taguba. Kwok’s lawyer, Bonifacio Alentajan said his client was “erroneously and unlawfully turned over to the Bureau of Immigration and since then, Ms. Kwok has been imprisoned without any legal authority" at the Bureau of Immigration Detention Center in Taguig City. - ARCS/GMANews.TV