Philippine Senate cites in contempt alleged Chinese smuggler Chaoqun Shi, lessee of one of the freezers, was found with P100 million worth of smuggled frozen meat products, during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, December 10.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, worked with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for the arrest of Shi.
On Wednesday’s hearing, he led an intensive line of questioning directed at Shi about his involvement in the multi-million-peso illegal entry of agricultural products that are unfit for human consumption into the country.
When questioned further, the detained Chinese national denied collaborating with Philippine government officials or other Filipino-Chinese individuals to operate his business in the country.
In a related matter, Mr. Shi was given an opportunity to explain why he should not be held in contempt of the committee for allegedly providing false information. This follows Senator Erwin Tulfo’s motion to cite him for contempt after the committee found his explanation unsatisfactory.
“Ang hinala natin there seems to be circumstantial evidence to point to other people involved na malakas ang kapit dahil wala pang nakakasuhan after one year and a half,” the senator said. “So, we recognize that Mr. Shi may be a vital witness to point to other officials of government, perhaps private sector, financiers who are behind this and possible other smuggling operations in the country.”
Shi is the lessee of freezer No. 8 from Vigour Global Logistics Corp. in Kawit, Cavite, which was then found with P100 million worth of smuggled frozen meat products in May 2024.
He admitted to storing meat products, which he supposedly sourced from neighboring warehouses No. 6 and No. 7, to supply to several restaurants in Pasay City that have since closed down.
In his opening statement, the senator pointed out how recent Senate hearings on agricultural smuggling pointed to “systematic lapses” and “possible collusion in port operations.”
“Hindi ito isolated lapse —patunay ito ng isang malawak na operasyon na umaasa sa mga butas ng sistema,” Pangilinan lamented.
As the world commemorates International Human Rights Day on December 10, the senator said that agricultural smuggling is not only economic distortion or sabotage, but it is also a human rights issue.
“Ang resulta nito ay mahabang kadena ng pinsala sa karapatang pantao: sa pagkawala ng kita ng magsasaka at mangingisda, sa pagkalugi, sa kawalan ng oportunidad para sa mga manggagawa, at sa mga mamimiling nawawalan ng access sa ligtas, masustansya, sapat at abot-kayang pagkain,” he added.
Through his committee’s hearings, the senator vowed to get to the bottom of the rampant agricultural smuggling operations in the country.
“Kaya’t habang nagpapatuloy ang ating pagdinig, bantay ang Senado, bantay ang taumbayan,” Pangilinan said.
“Dahil sa isang bansang humihingi ng hustisya para sa magsasaka, mangingisda, mangga-gawa, at mamimili, hindi tayo papayag na ang smuggling at katiwalian ang magtakda ng presyo, magdikta ng seguridad, at magpahina ng ating karapatan at kinabukasan,” he added.