Sotto seeks Senate probe on ‘large-scale’ smuggling of agri products

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday urged his colleagues to investigate the alleged “large-scale smuggling” of agricultural products.

“As legislators, we strive to pass laws to modernize the agricultural sector in the hopes of uplifting the lives of our farmers… But all these efforts are futile if smuggling and corruption continue to reign, killing and destroying our local agriculture industry and robbing our farmers a decent living,” Sotto said in a privilege speech.

“This is a call for this august body to exercise its oversight function and look into these matters. Hindi lang pandemya ang pinaka mabigat na kalaban ngayon kung hindi korupsyon. Some have said that ‘the biggest disease is corruption.’ Ito ang tuluy-tuloy na nagpapahirap sa ating lahat,” he added.

(It is not only the pandemic that is our biggest enemy right now, but also corruption. Some have said that ‘the biggest disease is corruption.’ Truly, this is what makes us suffer.)

Based on the monitoring of Bureau of Customs press releases from May 2021 to November 18, 2021 done by his office, Sotto said the BOC documented 25 operations amounting to approximately P1 billion.

The alleged smuggled goods include frozen meats, high value agricultural food, garlic, onions, sugar, frozen mackerel and tuna, carrots, ginger and other fruit and vegetable products were declared as pastry ingredients, glucose syrups, mantaou buns, or were misdeclared in terms of their true weight or quantity beyond the allowable importation limits as set forth by law.

“If we are to base the efficacy of our fight against smuggling on the press releases of the Bureau of Customs, it seems like we are on top of the issue. But the big problem is, mukhang hanggang (it appears that their anti-smuggling efforts are only) [press releases] lang talaga ang pagsugpo sa agricultural products smuggling,” Sotto noted.

“It seems like there are several layers of corruption here. Kung hindi nakalusot at nahuli, cases may not be filed against the smuggler or if talagang kakasuhan for PR (purposes), lesser offense naman ang ikakaso!” he lamented.

(It seems like there are several layers of corruption here. If the goods are seized, cases may not be filed against the smuggler or if they will charge them, they will file cases with lesser offense.)

BOC reacts

In an interview with GMA News, Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla, spokesperson of the BOC, welcomed Sotto’s privilege speech, saying they are open to any investigation.

“We’re thankful for Senator Sotto for bringing this concern of some disconnect in our records sa (in our) PRs namin and our records of cases filed. We’re open to any inquiry so we can thresh out whatever inconsistencies in our record or whatever clarifications might be needed in terms of our anti-agriculture smuggling efforts,” he said.

He also clarified that the BOC has also filed criminal cases against those involved in the alleged smuggling apart from administrative cases.

“Part of our efforts also [is] to maintain the integrity of the bureau, cleanse our ranks against unscrupulous individuals and of course, yung aming (our) goal to improve our record in terms of our integrity and operational transparency, lahat ng may involvement kinakasuhan namin (all of those who were involved will be charged). At the least, pinasasagot sila kung may makitang pagkukulang (we ask them to respond if there are shortcomings) on their part,” Maronilla said.

‘Economic sabotage’

Under Republic Act 10845 or  the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, Sotto said large-scale smuggling of agricultural products amounting to less than P1 million, or a minimum of P10 million in the case of rice is considered as “economic sabotage.”

Violation of the law carries a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural product and the aggregate taxes, duties and other charges avoided by the smuggler.

“No matter how we try to elevate the state of our agricultural sector to enable them to produce enough and provide for the whole nation, we will never achieve our agricultural independence because some scrupulous individuals are in cahoots with the smugglers,” he said.

“Port congestion, red tape, kotong, and under the table arrangements are just some issues in the Bureau of Customs that are burdening the businesses and weakens the business climate in our country,” noted.

Several senators backed Sotto’s proposal, including Senate agriculture committee chairperson Cynthia Villar who manifested that she will conduct the investigation in her panel.

However, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Sotto’s privilege speech may be referred to the Committee of the Whole as the matter covers matters other than agriculture. 

Senator Francis Pangilian also welcomed the impending Senate probe.

“We thank the Senate President for championing the cause of our farmers and fisherfolks, and addressing and hoping that we would be able to address this perennial problem of smuggling that affects the incomes as well as the welfare of our farmers and fisherfolk,” Pangilinan said.

“We’d like to congratulate his honor for this privilege speech and this representation would like to associate himself with the concern raised by the Senate President regarding smuggling particularly of agricultural products,” he added.

In September, Pangilinan filed Senate Resolution 922 which directed the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food to conduct an inquiry on the proliferation of smuggled Chinese vegetables in the country’s market. — RSJ, GMA News