Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Tuesday called for the immediate filing of economic sabotage charges against those behind the latest cases of agricultural smuggling, following the discovery of an estimated ₱33 million worth of smuggled red onions and frozen mackerel.
According to a source from the Department of Agriculture, the red onions were valued at ₱13 million, while the illegally imported frozen mackerel were pegged at ₱20 million in market value.
“These are not small-time offenses,” Pangilinan said. “This is large-scale agricultural smuggling. Under the law, this qualifies as economic sabotage — a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment.”
A source from the Bureau of Customs (BoC) identified the following consignees as linked to the questionable shipments of suspected smuggled agricultural products:
1. 1024 Consumer Goods Trading
– Customs Broker: Loujin Arm Ramos Tenero
2. Berches Consumer Goods Trading
– Customs Brokers: Berly Bitoy Ramos, Efren Yu Abello Jr, Gretchen Francisco Gimeno, Jason Alolor Ejes, John Cyril Mapa Imperial, Kimmuel Gler Lopez, Lyn Dinglasan Estrella, Muscholary Rose Sinuto Gonzales, Myr Dela Torre Ramos, Richelle Bautista Ramirez, and Rodalyn Goc Ong
3. EPCB Consumer Goods Trading
– Customs Broker: Ellaine Joy Gedaria
4. Queenstar Industry Consumer Trading
– Customs Broker: Judy Ann Gumban Jungco
5. VOX Enterprises OPC
– Customs Broker: Abegail Gruta Yumang
Pangilinan cited the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 (RA 10845) and its strengthened version under RA 12022 (2024), which define smuggling of agricultural products worth over ₱10 million as economic sabotage — a non-bailable crime punishable by life imprisonment and hefty fines.
He emphasized that the law holds not only the importers and company officers accountable, but also the customs brokers who knowingly facilitate these illegal activities.
“Under the law, customs brokers who act as enablers of smuggling are equally liable. Hindi lang consignee ang mananagot — pati mga opisyal ng kumpanya at broker na kasabwat nila ay pwedeng kasuhan at makulong nang habangbuhay,” Pangilinan said.
He also urged Agriculture Secretary Kiko Laurel to safeguard the documentation and valuation procedures for seized agricultural shipments, warning that any tampering or undervaluation could be used to go around the ₱10 million threshold and avoid economic sabotage charges.
He called on the Department of Justice and other concerned agencies to act swiftly. “Kung may ebidensya na, huwag nang patagalin. File the charges. Let them face the full force of the law.”
“Habang nalulugi ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda, may mga kumikita sa ilegal habang hindi naman bumababa ang presyo ng gulay at isda sa merkado. Dapat silang panagutin. Dapat may managot,” he added.
“Walang kulay ang gutom. Walang kulay ang solusyon. Laban ito ng lahat ng Pilipino laban sa smuggling at katiwalian, at mataas na presyo ng pagkain.”
PANGILINAN PUSHES ECONOMIC SABOTAGE CHARGES VS AGRI SMUGGLERS: “₱33 MILLION WORTH OF ONIONS, FISH SMUGGLED — DAPAT MAPANAGOT!”
