Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for stronger government action against agricultural smuggling, describing the persistent influx of illicit farm products as a direct threat to the nation’s food security and overall national stability.
He made this call in his opening statement during the hearing held by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, which he chairs, on Wednesday, December 3.
“Systemic ang pagpapahina ng ating seguridad sa pagkain at ng magsasaka at mangingisdang Pilipino. Gaya ng nabanggit natin sa ilang pagkakataon, food security is a national security concern and therefore, agri smuggling is a threat to our national security,” he said.
The senator also emphasized that agricultural smuggling undermines the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk and destabilizes the domestic food production systems.
Warning that continued inaction risks weakening the country’s capacity to feed its growing population especially during times of crisis and global market volatility, he lamented how the government’s response to this threat has been lackluster.
Pangilinan pointed out that the committee’s ongoing investigations have uncovered Chinese syndicates—operating similar to the banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs)—to be behind these activities.
He explained how these Chinese syndicates are empowered by corrupt government agencies, officials, and employees who allow them to bring smuggled and unsafe agricultural products into the country in exchange for kickbacks.
“Hindi uunlad ang lokal na agrikultura, mananatiling mahal ang pagkain, mananatiling gutom ang ating mga kababayan dahil hindi makabili ng sapat at masustansyang pagkain sa gitna ng ganitong pamiminsala,” the senator stressed.
Records showed, he said, that only 4 out of the 132 agricultural smuggling-related cases from 2021 to 2025 have been filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) because of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) failure to provide proper and correct documents.
“Nauuwi sa kakulangan ng ebidensya, na-didismiss ang kaso. Walang napapanagot at nagpapakulong at kung meron man, walang nakukulong na financer ng daang milyong pisong halaga o hanggang bilyong pisong halaga na nasasabat na smuggled goods,” he added.
The senator, who advocates for transparency, good governance, and rural development, identified the reforms needed to address the rampant agricultural smuggling in the country.
He said the BOC must integrate e-tracking mechanisms, strengthen inter-agency cooperation, and conduct an audit of warehouses for better transparency and accountability.