Yes. Thank you, Mr. President, Majority Leader.
Maikli lamang po ito. It is a brief manifestation and a request for a committee referral.
Some two weeks ago, Mr. President, sa mga araw ng September 17 at September 21, dalawang cargo vessels, carrying about 20,000 metric tons of Vietnam rice, both vessels were apprehended by the Bureau of Customs in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, as well as the Philippine Navy.
Yung Tay Son 2, which is now being presented on the screen, was apprehended in Davao City, carrying about 12,500 metric tons of Vietnam rice. Habang yung Crystal San Pedro naman, MV Tay Son, yung sa Davao, MV Lucky Star naman, carrying 7,500 metric tons din ng Vietnam rice. Both have been apprehended because of questionable documentation as well as the need — yes — cancellation of the sanitary and vital sanitary permits, Mr. President.
At current world market prices of about $420 dollars per metric ton, yung 20,000 metric tons na ito ay nagkakahalagang ₱700 million pesos.
At dahil dito, Mr. President, kaya napakaraming gustong mag-smuggle at marami naman nasa kasabwat dahil ang laking perang umiikot dito sa pag-smuggle ng agriculture products.
We are thankful. As chair of your Senate Agriculture Committee, Mr. President, we take this very seriously. I was in touch with Secretary Kiko Laurel this morning, as well as Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, and they have confirmed the apprehension, and we are thankful na sila mismo ang on top of the situation.
These are violations of Republic Act 12022. Initially, that is what the investigation is showing: the Anti-Agriculture Sabotage Act of 2024. And mind you, Mr. President, ang non-bailable offense of agriculture sabotage ay ₱10 million pesos lang ang halaga. Kaya siguro naman, ika nga, baka naman sa 700 million na nakumpiska, eh meron nang makukulong na malaking bilyonaryong mga smuggler.
Sadly, however, the record of apprehension leading to imprisonment and conviction, thus far, is dismal. Kaya masasabi natin, wala pang big-time billionaire smugglers ang nakukulong sa ganitong gawain. Maraming seizure, maraming confiscation, pero pagdating sa conviction, mukhang may mga magic na nangyayari.
However, we have the commitment of the B.O.C. and the D.A. in this regard. Hence, Mr. President, nais nating tiyakin na mababantayan natin itong mga kasong ito through your Committee on Agriculture. And therefore, we request, para mabantayan natin and to exercise our oversight functions, that this manifestation be referred to the Committee on Agriculture para naman magkaroon ng dagdag na tutok at magkaroon ng resolusyon at magkaroon ng parusa doon sa mga nasa likod nitong ₱700 million pesos worth of Vietnam rice surreptitiously and illegally brought into the country.
Pinapatay nila ang ating mga local farmers. Sinasamantala nila ang kahirapan ng ating mga magsasaka, kaya napakahalagang matutukan nito.
Maraming salamat, Mr. President. We move, with the permission of the Majority Leader… ###