Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan commended the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for their operation against Customs officials allegedly involved in the sale of frozen chicken meat meant for destruction, saying the incident underscores the need to intensify the fight against corruption within government ranks.
He also welcomed the BOC’s swift action to provisionally relieve two Port of Subic officials pending investigation.
However, the senator—who heads the Senate Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Agrarian Reform and has been leading the fight against agricultural smuggling—also said the operation should pave the way for a deeper investigation into how confiscated food products placed under government custody could allegedly be diverted for sale instead of being properly disposed of.
“Saludo tayo sa NBI sa kanilang pagkilos at kay Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno sa agarang pag-relieve sa mga opisyal habang iniimbestigahan ang insidente. Mahalaga ang mabilis na aksiyon upang mapangalagaan ang ebidensiya at matiyak ang isang patas at masusing imbestigasyon,” he said.
“But while we welcome the recent operation of the NBI and the BOC against erring government officials who are involved in these illegal activities, we also want to get to the bottom of this modus: paano ba ito nangyari, sino-sino ang mga nakikinabang, at sino ang nagkulang sa pagbabantay?,” the lawmaker added.
According to reports, the NBI conducted an operation in a rendering facility in Santa Maria, Bulacan, where tons of frozen chicken meat meant for destruction were allegedly being offered for sale.
The smuggled meat was part of the P6.7 million worth of frozen chicken meat seized by the Customs bureau last month at the Port of Subic. The shipment originated from Hong Kong and was misdeclared as cooked tofu, but it was flagged after intelligence information indicated it might contain frozen or processed food products and agricultural commodities.
Contrary to its declaration, examination revealed 1,380 cartons of frozen chicken breast and 174 cartons of frozen fish tofu.
Customs relief orders dated September 21, 2026 provisionally removed the Port of Subic’s Customs Police District Commander and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Field Station Chief from their assignments.
But Pangilinan stressed that the relief orders are mere preliminary measures and that responsibility must be established through evidence and due process.
“Hindi dapat matapos sa pag-relieve. Kailangang matukoy kung sino ang naglabas, naghatid, tumanggap, at nagtangkang magbenta ng mga produktong dapat ay sinisira. Kung may opisyal o pribadong indibidwal na sangkot, dapat silang panagutin batay sa ebidensiya,” he said.
He likewise called on the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), the Department of Agriculture’s Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE) unit, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to disclose the actions they have taken in connection with the incident.
“Sa NMIS, DAIE, at PNP: ano na ang inyong ginawa sa kasong ito? Kung may imbestigasyon na, ilahad ang mga hakbang at resulta na maaari nang isapubliko. Kung wala pa, ano pa iniintay ninyo? Kumilos na kayo,” he stressed.
The senator said the NMIS must verify the facility’s authorization to handle condemned meat, assess the seized products, and determine whether any quantities had already entered distribution channels.
The DAIE, he added, must also help trace the source, movement, and intended buyers of the goods, while the PNP must coordinate with the NBI and BOC to pursue any sellers, transporters, or protectors identified by the evidence.
Pangilinan likewise urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau Region III to verify whether the rendering facility’s environmental clearance is consistent with its actual operations, processing capacity, and handling of condemned meat.
The senator stressed the need for strict accountability in handling confiscated and condemned agricultural products—from seizure and storage to final disposal.
The incident, he said, also highlights the urgent need to strengthen the campaign against agricultural smuggling, which threatens not only local farmers and legitimate businesses but also the country’s food security.
“Ang agri smuggling ay banta sa food security. Kapag hinahayaan nating makapasok at maipamahagi ang mga ilegal na produkto, naaapektuhan ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda at nalalagay sa panganib ang ating food supply,” he said, adding that the campaign must target both private individuals involved in smuggling and government personnel who facilitate these activities.
“Hindi natin matatalo ang agri smuggling kung may mga taong nasa loob mismo ng gobyerno na tumutulong, nagpapalusot, o kumikita mula rito. Kung seryoso tayo sa pagsugpo sa smuggling, kailangan ding linisin ang loob ng gobyerno,” he said.
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