Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III on Monday, March 28 said the Office of the President should put its foot down on the issue of smuggling at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Department of Agriculture (DA).
Sotto, a vice presidential candidate, issued this statement after conducting a Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) hybrid hearing on unabated smuggling operations at seaports that negatively affect the P14 billion vegetable industry in Benguet, among others.
He said smuggling operations are being aggravated by importations authorized by government.
Both Sotto and presidential candidate Senator Panfilo M. Lacson expressed dismay at the failure of officials of the DA and BOC to stop smuggling despite their years in office.
Asked whether there is any way that the Senate could stop the smuggling, Sotto replied: ‘’We can always make an appeal but you know I leave it to the executive department.’’
‘’It should be the Office of the President no less should set the foot down on this issue of smuggling in the Bureau of Customs and Department of Agriculture,’’ he added.
Sotto said solution to the smuggling problems is automation but the band-aid solution is for the rank and file of the DA and BOC to work efficiently and be true to their oath of office.
To stanch the outflow of government revenues, Sotto said both the BOC and DA should ‘’shape up.’’
Elias Jose Inciong of the United Broilers Raisers Association (UBRA) testified that DA Secretary William Dar contracted the services of an importer as a DA consultant.
‘’Kaya pala pati galunggong gustong i-import (no wonder they want to import even galunggong),’’ Sotto exclaimed.
As the Senate is scheduled to hold a two-week regular session starting May 23 after the May 9, 2022 national elections, Sotto said his committee hearing would continue for him to know the updates of the charges being filed by government prosecutors against those who violated the laws.
Second, according to Sotto, is for the committee to consult the private sector on what it wants to propose and use the persuasive powers of the Senate to be able to make the inter-agencies listen to the solutions that they are going to propose.
On a personal note, Sotto proposed that government agencies should stop finger-pointing and instead simply seize questionable shipments.