Embattled anti-smuggling czar Antonio Villar of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group has found an ally in the House of Representatives where he has been the object of scathing criticism over alleged multi-million peso anomalies committed by the agency in its anti-smuggling drive.

In a privilege speech on Monday, Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco linked criticisms against Villar to the numerous achievements he had chalked up in going after big-time smugglers as he rejected calls for the abolition of the PASG.

Cojuangco drew a parallel between the PASG’s anti-smuggling activities and an audit of business operations that determines whether or not the “business model” being followed is flawed.

The PASG was formed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to serve as a “check-and-balance” agency of the Bureau of Customs.

“It is only normal that those in authority at BoC, or any organization under audit for that matter, will be uncomfortable with scrutiny. To this representation, this is but part of the job. It comes with the territory,” Cojuangco said.

The veteran lawmaker said Malacañang should be commended for forming the PASG which is a composite group taken from various law enforcement agencies in the country.

He said the PASG carries out an “executive oversight and audit” of the BoC that the president believes is necessary in battling graft and in pursuing a strong anti-smuggling drive by the government.

Cojuangco stressed that Villar and the PASG had apparently succeeded in carrying out its mandate that “since its inception,” the agency has achieved “numerous and continuing successes.”

Among the accomplishments cited by Cojuangco were the 2008 multi-billion drug bust at Subic; anti-smuggling operation on jewelries and precious stones estimated at P250 million; confiscation of P300 million worth of video replicating machines in Quezon City and Angeles City; seizure of P150 million worth of smuggled rice, among others. According to Cojuangco, the PASG netted for the government some P13 billion in additional duties, taxes and seized goods from 2007-2009.

“The achievements of PASG over the past 28 months demonstrate in no uncertain terms, the relevance of its existence,” he said. “It is no surprise that the PASG has received a disproportionately large share of criticism.”

Cojuangco dared his colleagues to look into the link of the criticisms hurled against PASG and the apprehension of smugglers.

“Should we not be more suspicious of an absence of criticism? I urge those who have a legitimate gripe about PASG. Bring it out into the open. Present your evidence. Let us not judge by innuendo,” he said.

He added: “The relevance of PASG to us in the district was emphasized by the recent apprehension of illegal shipments of onions and other agricultural products like pork. Without the mitigation of these illegal smuggling activities, the lives of poor farmers, would be directly impacted further driving them into poverty.”