DA might tap anti-graft body in probe of pork imports anomaly

Secretary William Dar said Wednesday the Department of Agriculture (DA) might elevate its ongoing probe into the alleged money-making scheme involving the allocation of pork import certificates under the minimum access volume (MAV) to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), if officials are found to be involved in corrupt practices.

Dar vouched for the impartiality of the special committee he formed to investigate Senator Panfilo Lacson’s claims that a syndicate within the DA could possibly gain billions of pesos in "tongpats" or padded costs from the recommendation to reduce tariff rates and increase MAV allocation on pork imports. 

“Yesterday, I issued a memo creating a fact-finding committee on allegations na mayroong tongpats dito sa pagi-import ng pork through the minimum access volume,” the Agriculture chief said in a press conference following the launch of the Special Window and Interim Support to Nurture Hog Enterprises (SWINE) lending program.

The committee is composed of the DA’s Legal Service chief, director of the agency’s Internal Audit Services, and a veterinarian from the Office of the Secretary, according to Dar.

“I can vouch for their honesty and integrity,” he said.

Asked if personnel and officials to be investigated will be placed under preventive suspension, Dar said, “Of course, that will lead to that.”

“If there is prima facie evidence, then it will continue and even for us to elevate this to PACC for them to continue until they are charged to court,” he said.

The Agriculture chief said the DA special panel has until the end of March to finish its probe.

“It is a tight deadline, I have given them until the end of the month to submit their report,” Dar said.

The Senate adopted a resolution calling on the Committee of the Whole to conduct an investigation into the food security crisis in the country brought about by the African swine fever (ASF) problem. 

During the resumption of its session, the chamber adopted Senate Resolution 685, which also urges the Committee of the Whole to look into allegations of "tongpats," or padded costs on pork imports from which unscrupulous individuals within the Department of Agriculture (DA) could earn at least P6 billion.

The resolution stemmed from the information received by Senator Panfilo Lacson, author of the measure, from "high-placed" officials within the department that there is "tongpats" of P5 to P7 per kilo of pork import prevailing at the current importation setup.

The senator said the padded costs may significantly increase if the tariffs on pork imports are reduced and the MAV allocation is increased, as proposed by the DA.

MAV refers to the volume of a specific agricultural commodity that may be imported with a lower tariff. This is a commitment of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to facilitate trade between countries.

The DA is proposing to increase the MAV on pork imports to 400,000 metric tons from the current 54,000 metric tons to augment domestic supply due to the constraints brought by the ASF.

It is also proposing to lower tariffs from 30 percent to five percent for this year.—LDF, GMA News