Marcos: No deadline for agriculture smuggling probe

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said there will be no deadline for the investigation into agricultural smuggling that he ordered.

Marcos told reporters he would let the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the reported hoarding, smuggling, and price fixing of agricultural products.

“Hindi ako mahilig magbigay ng deadline. Siyempre gusto ko matapos nila nang maaga pero kailangan tapos, hindi hilaw,” Marcos said.

(I don't like giving deadlines. Of course, I want them to finish soon but I don't want half-baked results.)

"Let them do their investigation. Wala namang particular, ang pinag-usapan, ang naging pagbasehan 'yung naging problema sa maliwanag na nagho-hoarding, na kinokontrol 'yung suplay ng sibuyas," Marcos added.

(Let them do their investigation. There's no particular topic, the basis was the hoarding practices that control the supply of onions.)

The President expressed belief that there are a lot of syndicates behind smuggling and hoarding of agricultural products. He reiterated that these illegal practices amount to economic sabotage.

Marcos, who also chairs the Department of Agriculture (DA), on Tuesday ordered the DOJ and the NBI to investigate the smuggling of onions and other agricultural products.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo said in a Memorandum to the President that there was a substantial evidence pointing to the existence of an onion cartel that could be behind the surge in onion prices in 2022.

"I have just given instructions to the DOJ and the NBI to initiate an investigation into the hoarding, smuggling, [and] price fixing of agricultural commodities," Marcos said in a video message.

The DOJ on Tuesday announced the creation of Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Task Force, which will include the Bureau of Customs and the DA.

Among the members of the task force will be The Office of the Prosecutor General, headed by Chief State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon, and the NBI, headed by Director Medardo De Lemos.

The DOJ also said it will form a special team of prosecutors "primarily focused on protecting the entire agricultural sector, not only the onion industry." 

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III urged Malacañang to ensure monitoring of the implementation of the anti-agricultural smuggling order in the lower ranks.

"I congratulate the [President] for his order to crack down on smuggling , [especially] of [agricultural] products. But the [Office of the President] and the entire Malacañang must monitor if the lower ranks are seriously implementing the President’s orders," Pimentel said.

The Senate had conducted several probes into the smuggling of agricultural products in the country, including the controversial "sugar fiascos" in the past year. 

Vigilant

Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte welcomed the President’s action, saying Congress will remain vigilant against price manipulation.

“This is a welcome development, a decisive action that manifests the President’s resolve to clamp down on unscrupulous businessmen preying on hapless Filipino consumers,” Romualdez said in a statement.

“The President’s directive should be enough to deter further supply manipulation of agricultural products and help stabilize prices, especially amid reports that prices of onion are on the rise again," he added.

"The House of Representatives is ready to provide our authorities with the data uncovered from our committee hearings to provide them a head start in their own investigation,” Romualdez said.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations,  thanked Marcos for recognizing the hard work of the House especially Romualdez, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, and Quimbo, who investigated groups allegedly behind agricultural smuggling and hoarding.

"The president’s order to investigate and prosecute smugglers, hoarders and price manipulators shows his firm resolve to end serious economic crimes that victimize millions of ordinary Filipinos," Co said.

"If warranted, the DOJ and NBI should file charges of economic sabotage against criminal syndicates that prey on hapless consumers and farmers," he added.

Co said while he was in favor of further liberalizing the importation of agricultural products in short supply, he said imports should be limited during harvest season to protect local producers and farmers.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, for his part, said the President’s action recognizes Congress’ role in unmasking such syndicates.

“It only shows the Chief Executive’s seriousness in protecting the welfare of the public, especially ordinary people: consumers and the farmers who till the land to ensure that we’ll all have food to eat,” Barzaga, a member of the House agriculture and food committee, added. —KBK/RSJ/NB, GMA Integrated News