Govt to contest court ruling abolishing PASG

Saying the court cannot question the president's "wisdom," the government will contest a Manila judge's order to abolish the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG). New Justice Secretary and concurrent Solicitor General Alberto Agra said Wednesday the Office of the Solicitor General will file a motion for reconsideration on the matter. "Ako ang acting Solicitor General, as soon as matanggap namin (ang kopya ng desisyon), kami ay magpa-file ng motion for reconsideration (I am also the acting Solicitor General, so as soon as the Office of the Solicitor General receives a copy of the order, it will file a motion for reconsideration)," Agra said in an interview on dzXL radio. On Tuesday, Manila Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. ordered the abolition of PASG, saying the decree that created it — Executive Order No. 624 — is "illegal and unconstitutional." [See: Court orders abolition of PASG] The order stemmed from a petition filed by British national Siu Ting Alpha Kwok, which sought to declare the decree invalid and unconstitutional. [See: ‘Diamond Queen’ scores legal points vs govt] Kwok filed the case in October 2009 after she was arrested for allegedly smuggling jewelry and precious gems. On Aug. 18 last year, PASG agents raided Kwok’s residence on the 17th floor of Pacific Place in Ortigas, Pasig City and arrested her for allegedly selling precious gems illegally. But Kwok's lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan claimed the PASG officers never filed any criminal or administrative case against Kwok. But Agra said the Administrative Code allows the President to effect reorganizations in the government. He also contested the basis of Pampilo's decision that the PASG may overlap with the Bureau of Customs. The justice secretary said that while the court may rule on a matter of legality, it cannot rule on a matter of presidential policy. "Ang binanggit na dahilan na overlapping, yan ay issue sa polisiya at di legalidad (The claim that the PASG's functions overlap with those of other agencies touched not on legality but on presidential policy)," Agra said. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV