When Dexter Juala woke up on Monday, September 15, it wasn’t for his usual job as a Food Panda rider; it was to attend a highly charged investigation at the Senate into the multi-million peso agricultural smuggling operations that Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan had called to order.
According to the official records from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Juala is the owner of the EPCB Consumer Goods Trading, which was the consignee of some 14 containers with smuggled carrots, onions, and frozen fish seized at the Port of Subic last July.
“Sir, wala po akong alam diyan,” he said when Pangilinan asked about the smuggled products.
What followed was an unraveling of a web of conspiracy where ordinary Filipinos like Juala became scapegoats for large smuggling operations.
Juala said that he was approached by his uncle—a certain Erwin Pascual—who asked for his ID, made him sign some documents, and registered his name at the Pier.
“Hindi ko po alam. Basta po pinapirma lang ako sa dokumento na binigay sakin pero wala na po akong alam sa mga susunod na nangyari,” he insisted during a separate interview with the senator’s staff.
At only 23 years old, Juala maintained his innocence, expressing fear for what’s ahead, especially because he has a child to take care of and provide for.
“Natatakot din po ako. Naii-stress din po ako kakaisip dahil may anak din po akong binubuhay,” he said. “Kaya naman po ako nagpunta dito kasi wala naman po ako talagang kasalanan kaya humarap po ako dito.”
He revealed that his uncle, who would be invited to the Senate’s next hearing, had already offered to help him.
“(Sabi ng) Tito ko na tutulungan naman daw po ako sa nangyayari sa akin po ngayon,” he added.
For Pangilinan, however, Juala’s case is an example of how big-time smugglers use unsuspecting and ordinary Filipinos to escape liability for their crimes.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman maglalakas ang loob ng mga ito kung walang nasa likod nila na kumakamada. Kamadang sindikato ito, maliwanag. Kamada ng malaking sindikato ang nangyari dito,” he said.
“Biruin mo Food Panda rider ang may ari ng EPCB at sinasabing pinasulat lang sa kanya. Anong ginagawa niya dito? Paano nangyari na siya ang may ari at nalusutan na naman ang Customs?,” the senator asked.
During the hearing, he also flagged the use of fake or expired broker licenses and the practice of sharing the credentials of legitimate licensed brokers among import companies.
“Di ko to tatantantan hanggang magkaroon ng resulta dahil yun naman ang hinihiling ng ating mga kababayan. Galit na ang taong bayan sa korapsyon, sa panga-abuso sa pwesto, galit na ang taong bayan sa kamadang sindikato,” Pangilinan said.