As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan cited in contempt two brokers on Tuesday, October 7, who repeatedly refused to disclose the identities of individuals behind multi-million-peso agricultural smuggling operations. Pangilinan stressed that such defiance constitutes not only disrespect to the Senate but also an insult to the Filipino farmers whose livelihoods have been greatly affected by these illicit activities.
During the Senate panel’s hearing on agricultural smuggling and the implementation of Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Economic Sabotage Act, Pangilinan cited brokers Lujin Ramos Tenero of 1024 Consumer Goods Trading and Brenda de Sagun of Berches Consumer Goods Trading in contempt after a motion from Senator JV Ejercito.
“All we are asking for is Mr. Carlos’ last name and you refuse to answer. Therefore, because of your refusal to answer and there is a motion to cite you in contempt, you are hereby cited in contempt by this committee,” the Senator told Tenero, who refused to provide the surname of a certain Mr. Carlos who allegedly asked him to sign the import entry documents for smuggled frozen mackerel worth P68 million (initially declared as P40 million worth of chicken poppers).
At the last hearing, Tenero was given the opportunity to explain in writing why he should not be cited in contempt after refusing the same request from the Senator.
De Sagun faced the same motion after she also feigned knowledge of the identity of a certain Mr. Vicente.
“Parehas istilo nyo. Di nyo kilala. Alam nyo lang first name. Pumirma kayo, pumayag kayo milyon-milyon ang halaga,” the senator said. “May motion to cite you in contempt, duly seconded. You are hereby cited in contempt by the Senate.”
Both Tenero and De Sagun argued they went back to the Pier to try to find “Mr. Carlos” and “Mr. Vicente” but to no avail.
Addressing the two brokers, Pangilinan stressed that he does not like to hold them in detention but that they are the “key” to finding out more about the smuggling operations. He also offered to help them find the alleged BOC officials who facilitated the entry of the smuggled goods.
“Sana maintindihan mo hindi namin nais na ikaw ay ikulong. Baka sakali sa ilang araw na ikaw ay makapag-isip-isip kung kinakailangan mo ng proteksyon ng Senado at maibibigay ito sayo,” he told Tenero. “Kung nais mo pumunta muli, bumalik sa Port Area para hanapin sino itong Carlos na sinasabi mo, pwede ka samahan ng Sergeant-at-Arms ng Senado.”
“Ayaw namin ikaw ang makulong pero ikaw ang susi para malaman natin sino si Carlos. Sabi ko sa opening statement, ayoko gawin ito (dahil) hindi dapat ang maliliit ang nakukulong pero ito ang paraan para matigil na ang pagkakasangkapan sa inyo na paulit-ulit na nangyayari.”
During the hearing, Mr. Erwin Pascual of EPCB Consumer Goods Trading was also requested to provide a written explanation why he should not be cited in contempt “for lying” about his role in the smuggling of P130 million worth of agricultural products.