DA asks Senate panel for enforcement power vs agri smuggling

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday asked legislators for enforcement power to dismantle agriculture smuggling in the country. 

At the resumption of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian hearing, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. requested the Senate panel for additional authority to curb and apprehend smugglers, separate from the enforcement group of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council (AESC).

“In order to hopefully solve this faster…the Department of Agriculture would like to request na mabigyan kami ng enforcement powers na independent to the council,” Tiu Laurel told senators. 

(In order to hopefully solve the smuggling faster, the Department of Agriculture would like to request for us to be provided with enforcement powers independent to the council.)

“Kami ang walang role but kami ang nakakaalam ng lahat ng loko-loko dyan eh. Kami ang may information on the ground,” he added. 

(We don’t have a role in the enforcement group but we know the information for that. We have the information on the ground.)

Republic Act 12022

Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, created AESC — a council tasked to enforce the law and ensure that swift and decisive action is taken against anyone who dares to sabotage the agricultural sector.

It likewise established an enforcement group and an executive committee. The DA is part of the AESC but not of the two other bodies. 

“Meron kaming [inspectorate and enforcement group] but technically walang powers. Basically, monitoring and surveillance lang,” Tiu-Laurel Jr. said. 

(We have an inspectorate and enforcement group but technically they don’t have powers. Basically, they are for monitoring and surveillance only.)

“Everyone is doing their job but tingin ko mas maraming enforement mas maganda,” he added. 

(Everyone is doing their job but I think it will be better to have more enforcemet agencies.)

Senator Francis Pangillinan, committee panel chairperson, suggested the DA to be included in the execom. However, the AESC said the member-agencies for the committee were specified under the law. 

“I am looking for a policy, wherein a management committee can be created…The plenary powers of the council can do that so that there is tighter coordination as we address what I believe to be anomalous — wala ang BOC [at DA], smuggling ang pinag-uusapan,” he said. 

(I am looking for a policy, wherein a management committee can be created…The plenary powers of the council can do that so that there is tighter coordination as we address what I believe to be anomalous — the BOC and DA are excluded from the enforcement group when the topic is smuggling.)

In August, Tiu Laurel  lamented the absence of his department’s enforcement power, which he said has resulted in the lack of agriculture smugglers getting apprehended. 

“Ang problema nito, while gusto ko rin ang gusto ninyo na magkaron ng naka-posas, makulong na non-bailable, kung pwede nga maibaon ‘yan sa kulungan nang matagal tagal, eh ‘yun din ang hangarin ko dahil galit ako diyan. Ang problema, wala kaming powers—’yan ang total, honest truth diyan,” he said. 

(While I also want to see them handcuffed, face a non-bailable offense, and rot in jail for a long time because I hate what they’re doing, the problem is we don't have powers—that's the total, honest truth here.) 

“Bigyan niyo ho kami ng enforcement power, ako na maga-guarantee sa inyo may makukulong,” he added. 

(Give us enforcement power and I myself will assure you that there will be people who will be jailed.) 

The Senate panel deferred the legislative inquiry. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News