Sotto: List of alleged agri smugglers, protectors submitted to Ombudsman

The Senate committee of the whole report showing a list of individuals, including several Customs and Agriculture officials allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling, has been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday.

"Pinadala ko 'yung kopya sa Ombudsman, 'di lang 'yung listahan pinadala ko sa Ombudsman 'yung buong committee report. Nandoon 'yung rekomendasyon ng buong committee ng Senado kung sino-sino ang dapat kasuhan kumpleto 'yon," Sotto said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview when asked about the possibility that the officials might get off the hook since their terms will be ending after President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.

(I sent the copy of the committee report, not just the list but the entire report, to the Ombudsman. Included there were the recommendation on who should be charged.)

The Senate chief, who led the investigation into the rampant agricultural smuggling in the country, reiterated that the report was also transmitted to President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. who will be heading the Department of Agriculture upon his assumption of office.

In a text message to reporters, Sotto said the copy of the report must be given to the Ombudsman because it is their job to investigate and file necessary charges against those who were proven involved in the illegal importation of food products in the country.

The lawmaker also reiterated his warning against the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency if they will continue to deny that they are not the ones who provided the list to his office.

"They are playing on words kaya pinakamaganda, mas maganda tumahimik na lang. 'Wag na nilang kontrahin ang committee report ng Senado dahil kapag kinontra nila 'yon, mapipilitan ako na ilabas lahat," Sotto said.

On Tuesday, NICA Director Edsel Batalla denied that the names of suspected smugglers and protectors mentioned in the Senate committee of the whole were not from their agency after two senators criticized them over the rawness of information which they disclosed with the Senate panel.

Responding to Batalla's statement, Sotto said he has the records of the NICA officials' visit to his office where they supposedly disclosed the information to him.

The Senate committee of the whole report sourced by the media Monday showed that 22 people, including Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero and several Customs and Agriculture officials, were identified as alleged protectors and smugglers of agricultural products.

It was based on an intelligence report received by Sotto on May 17, 2022 containing a "validated list" of persons purportedly involved in the illegal importation of agricultural products in the country.

Several personalities on the list, including Guerrero, have denied their involvement in agricultural smuggling.—AOL/RSJ, GMA News