MANILA, Philippines -  A Manila trial court judge on Tuesday declared as unconstitutional an executive order creating the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG).

In a 9-page decision, Judge Silvino Pampilo of the Manila RTC Branch 26 said Executive Order No. 624 creating the PASG violates the separation of powers because it contradicts the provision of the Tariff and Customs Code and duplicates the functions of the Bureau of Customs.

"Wherefore premises considered the petition for declaratory relief is hereby granted. Executive Order 624 is hereby declared illegal, invalid, unconstitutional and in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers, checks and balances," the ruling read.

The same court earlier suspended the operations of PASG after foreigner Siu Ting Alpha Kwok, also known as the "diamond queen", questioned the validity of the law that created the PASG.

PASG agents raided Kwok's condominium unit in Pasig City last August, seizing about half a billion pesos worth of diamonds, assorted jewelry and wrist watches believed to have been smuggled into the country from Hong Kong.

Kwok has claimed that the raid was illegal and that the agency performs the same functions as that of the customs bureau.