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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DA, BOC not in cahoots over alleged vegetable smuggling--Nograles

DA, BOC not in cahoots over alleged vegetable smuggling--Nograles

Published Dec 14, 2021 04:32 pm

Malacañang has denied Senator Ping Lacson's claim that an "inter-agency conspiracy" has facilitated the smuggling of vegetables from China to the Philippines, particularly in the highland province of Benguet.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Malacañang photo)


"Wala pong inter-agency conspiracy na nangyayari (There is no inter-agency conspiracy happening)," Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said during a virtual press conference Tuesday, Dec. 14.

Nograles was reacting to a recent Senate hearing wherein Benguet farmers' complaints on the illegal entry of vegetables from China were discussed. The smuggling of foreign produce has affected the income of farmers in the province, known as "salad bowl" of the Philippines.

Resource persons from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) reportedly could give a satisfactory answer to Lacson when asked how the foreign produce has been able to enter the country. This led the presidential aspirant to conclude that DA and BOC were in cahoots.

Nograles disagreed. "The Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture are working together para ma-curb po itong mga smuggling ng gulay at smuggling per se (to curb this smuggling of vegetables and smuggling per se)," he said.

This notwithstanding, the Cabinet Secretary said that cooperation from the public in terms of providing tips to authorities regarding smuggling activities remain vital. He said tipsters may reach the government via Hotline 8888.

"The hotline is there for purposes of people to report immediately to us kung mayroon ba kayong nalalaman, kabilang na rin po diyan iyong sa smuggling (if they know anything, including about smuggling)," Nograles said.

"So, we continue to crackdown on illegal smuggling. We continue to crack down siyempre doon sa smuggling ng mga gulay dahil alam naman po namin na ang tatamaan talaga dito ay ang ating mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda (Of course we continue to crack down against the smuggling of vegetables since we know that its the farmers and fishermen who will be at a disadvantage)," he explained.

Related Tags

vegetable da benguet Bureau of Customs Karlo Nograles BOC Philippines department of agriculture ping lacson snuggling 121421 inter-agency conspiracy salad bowl farmers china
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