Officials involved in agri smuggling, DA exec tells Senate panel

Corrupt officials in the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Customs are involved in the smuggling of imported crops into the country, a ranking agriculture official told a Senate inquiry on Monday.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste confirmed that he told Benguet farmers in a dialog on March 15 that high-profile individuals were involved in the smuggling of agricultural goods.

“Yes, Mr. President, na-mention ko po 'yun. Meron po kasi nung mga hinuhuli ko, sir, nu'ng mga cases nakaraan nu'ng 2021. May mga tumatawag po kasi sa akin noon, mga matataas na tao pero ang ginawa ko po dun, 'di ko na po inaksyunan. Instead tinuloy pa rin namin yung paghuli at pagkaso,” Laciste said.

(Yes, Mr. President. I mentioned individuals who were involved in the smuggling cases in 2021. There were some who called me then including big-time personalities, but we pushed through with the operation and the filing of cases.)

“On record naman na tinuloy namin lahat. Lahat inabot namin at finile natin ng kaso,” he added.

(We pushed through with the operations and we filed cases against them and that's on record.)

Laciste confirmed Benguet Province Board Member Robert Namoro's remarks before the Senate Committee of the Whole that he had admitted there was corruption "like in the Bureau of Customs and the DA.”

“He also admitted that big-time personalities, who are involved in the smuggling, call him every now and then for favors. He especially mentioned politicians. I just want to clarify this issue if this is really the statement of Laciste during the meeting,” Namoro said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III pressed Laciste to name the personalities but he refused to reveal them in a public hearing. He asked for an executive session but his request was declined.

Sotto asked him to write the names on paper for submission to the committee.

Upon the interpellation of Senator Panfilo Lacson, Laciste said that some of the individuals who were involved in smuggling activities were former officials.

Laciste compared the issue of smuggling with the drug problem in the country, saying corruption in the agriculture industry was also deeply rooted.

“Ganun po ang problem po natin not only ditto, sa universe, Sir natin, marami pong, malalim na po yung ugat ng problem,” Laciste said.

(That is our problem not only here, but also in general. The problem is already deeply rooted.)

“Just like sa drugs, we’re going after mga humahawak ng drugs, but we’re not going after doon sa humahawak ng drug money. Ganun din po sir ang application namin sa smuggling,” he added.

(Just like the problem with drugs, we go after those handling the drugs but we do not go after those who managing the drug money. The same applies in the issue of smuggling.)

The Senate Committee of the Whole is investigating the proliferation of smuggled agricultural products in the Philippine market.

The panel is also looking into the issues in the Bureau of Customs that are related to the smuggling of crops. 

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary William Dar condemned the smuggling of agricultural goods.

"As the Secretary of Agriculture, I condemn in the strongest terms the smuggling and illegal entry of all agricultural, fishery and meat products into the country -- as these compete directly with our local farmers, fishers and food producers, depriving them of much-needed livelihood and incomes," Dar said.

"Secondly, they pose danger as smuggled products may carry transboundary pests and diseases that could harm our agriculture, fishery and animal industry, in general. More importantly, they could pose danger to human health," he added. —NB, GMA News