BOC: P1-B worth of smuggled agricultural products seized under Marcos admin so far

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Sunday it has confiscated more than P1 billion worth of smuggled agricultural products since the Marcos administration started. 

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, BOC spokesperson Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. said the agency is continuously enforcing its campaign against agricultural smuggling, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“‘Yung accomplishment natin simula dumating ang ating Presidente at pag-assume ng position ng ating Commissioner, ‘yung na-accomplish niya ay nagkaron na tayo ng 96 seizures ng mga agricultural products or in total is mahigit P1 billion ang nakuha natin kung ito ay nakalabas,” he said.

(Our accomplishment since the President and our Commissioner assumed their posts is that we already had 96 seizures of agricultural products worth more than P1 billion if they were released in the market.)

Dela Torre said the BOC’s latest interception of smuggled agricultural products happened in the Port of Subic wherein frozen carrots, and red and white onions from China were found inside container shipments declared as otherwise.

Dela Torre said the methods on how these commodities were being shipped have already innovated.

“Nakikita siguro ng mga nagtatangka na mura ‘yung pagkakakuha nila ng agricultural products sa bansang China and para ipalusot sa 'tin. Ganoon kalakas ang loob nila,” dela Torre said.

(Those who are smuggling may have seen that they can get agricultural products cheaply in China and they have so much courage to course these products through us.)

“Nu'ng nagkaron tayo ng inspection… 'yun pong naka-deklara ay halos kalahati talaga ng laman ng container, at ‘yung kalahati, kapag hindi ka nag-inspect talaga ng 100% ay merong nakasingit na mga agricultural products,” he added.

(When we did the inspection, we found out that half of the contents of the container contained the products that were declared. Unless we inspect 100%, you would not find that there were agricultural products inserted in the other half.)

For his part, Benguet Representative Eric Yap has called on the BOC to file criminal cases against consignees of shipments of agricultural products that illegally entered the country.

“We are urging the BOC to file a case against those involved sa pagpasok ng mga container shipments na ito sa bansa,” he said in a separate statement.

“Bigyan natin ng sample ang agri smugglers, ipakita na may ngipin ang batas natin. More than one million ang halaga nito, dapat no bail. Pangalanan lahat, kasuhan, at ipakulong,” he added.

(We are urging the BOC to file a case against those involved in the entry of these container shipments into the country. Let us make a sample of agri smuggles to show that our laws have teeth. This is worth more than a million, so there should be no bail. Name them all, charge them, and have them jailed.)

Yap said some P20.193-million worth of smuggled agricultural products could have entered the markets and impacted local farmers, with the potential estimated losses on the industry being even higher.

The lawmaker said he would await the filing of cases against smugglers, as he would push for stricter penalties for those involved.

“‘Pag hindi pa nakulong ang consignees, brokers, at iba pang involved dito, paano na?” he said.

“Magpa-file uli tayo ng House Resolution na mag-iinquire na bakit wala pa rin napapakulong kahit may ebidensya naman. Gusto natin malaman paano masisiguro na mapapanagot ang mga smugglers na ito,” he added.

(If the consignees, brokers, and others involved are not jailed, what now? We will file another House Resolution to inquire why there have been no arrests despite the evidence. We want to know how smugglers are made accountable.)

Marcos, who sits as the concurrent Agriculture secretary, earlier warned that the government will go after individuals involved in agricultural smuggling. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG/DVM, GMA Integrated News