Pangilinan to meet with gov’t agencies in filing raps vs agri smugglers

Senate agriculture, food, and agrarian reform panel chair Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is set to meet with several government agencies to initiate the build-up and filing of cases against agricultural smugglers operating in the country.

Pangilinan made the remarks on Monday as he joined the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in inspecting two shipments from China that contained at least P12.96 million worth of misdeclared frozen chicken breast and fish balls at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

Pangilinan said he will meet with the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to start the case build-up and the filing of non-bailable charges against the smugglers under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law.

Cases will be filed against brokers, consignees, warehouse owners, and big-time smuggling operators, including government officials.

“If at all, that’s an indicator of how serious we are, how serious the BOC is. We have been coordinating with the BOC since Day 1 of our smuggling hearings. They have been providing us with the necessary documents and information,” the senator said.

Pangilinan also raised concerns over public safety after receiving intelligence reports that agricultural products mostly smuggled and shipped from China may pose health risks to its consumers. 

“Ang lakas ng loob nilang ipasok at gumawa ng kalokohan. Is this salvaged value? Ibig sabihin, binili sa China, dapat itapon na, pero dahil mura dadalhin dito tapos lilinisin – ganon ba ang sistema?” he said. 

(They were confident in committing such wrongdoings. Is this salvaged value? This means it was bought in China and were already for disposal but instead of throwing it away, it will be cleaned and delivered here. Is this the system?)

“We want to check kasi yung ganon. Doon ngayon pumapasok yung sakit,” he added. 

(We want to check if that’s the case, because that is how illnesses spread.) 

In September, the Senate panel launched its probe into the alleged rampant agricultural smuggling in the country’s ports. It cited five individuals, including two brokers in contempt for allegedly “untruthful” statements during the ongoing legislative inquiry. — JMA, GMA Integrated News