Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan raised a critical concern over the continued absence of convictions and imprisonment of individuals involved in large-scale agricultural smuggling, despite mounting evidence and repeated anti-smuggling operations.
The senator Pangilinan expressed deep frustration over the failure of authorities to bring smugglers to justice, emphasizing the detrimental impact of smuggling on Filipino farmers and local food producers.
“Maawa naman kayo sa mga magsasaka, umaasa sa ating lahat na gawin yung trabaho natin. At syempre yung ating mamimili (rin),” he said during the Second Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform joint with the Committees on Ways and Means and Finance on Monday, September 1.
Pangilinan pointed out that the three recent anti-smuggling operations in Subic, Paco, and Talisay City, Cebu should serve as a “litmus test” for the full implementation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which makes smuggling of agricultural products above P10 million non-bailable.
“Uulit-ulitin ko dahil andiyan na yung, nakumpiska na, andiyan na yung produkto, andiyan na yung halaga, andito na yung mga pangalan ng mga brokers, ng mga consignees, yung mga importer, yung mga may-ari ng warehouse, yung mga may-ari ng cold storage,” the senator, who chairs the Senate agriculture committee, said. “You have all the information necessary to file cases of anti-economic sabotage. Bakit walang nangyayari o hindi pa nangyayari?”
He raised concerns that most of the individuals behind these smuggling organizations could have already escaped the country by now because they are aware that smuggling more than P10 million worth of agricultural products is a non-bailable offense.
“Mageeskapo na lahat yan so wala nang saysay yung nagpapasahan tayo ng dokumento kung hindi mabilis. I hope you understand. Ang realidad non bailable yan eh kung hindi tayo kumilos, alam nila under investigation sila, ano na mangyayari sa atin?,” he asked.
Pangilinan assured the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and all relevant agencies that handle anti-smuggling operations that the Senate can be a venue for them to seek interventions to equip them better to run after smugglers.
“We want you to succeed. You have our full backing if you want to pursue your mandate under the anti-agriculture smuggling law,” he said.