Government officials and employees who are proven to be involved in agricultural smuggling should be slapped with heftier penalties.
Thus, said AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who for this purpose filed House Bill (HB) No.5742. The measure seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No.10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.
In filing HB No.5742, Lee underscored the need to punish not only the illegal importers but all those involved in agricultural smuggling, including public officials and employees with perpetual absolute disqualification from holding office.
“The agriculture sector will not progress and issues relating to it will not be solved if the supposed protectors and implementors of public interest are behind agricultural smuggling,” said the Bicolano.
“Strict enforcement is needed as government officials and employees are agents of the people. The power and position entrusted to them should only be used for the benefit of all and not for their own personal gain,” Lee added.
RA 10845 declared large-scale smuggling of agricultural products as “economic sabotage”. But, up to this day, agricultural smuggling remains rampant in the country.
“Agriculture industries are still competing against smuggled products, the latter dominating the market. As a result, there is a decline in local produce. Local agricultural sectors are restrained from continuing their production because of fear of their products going to waste or being sold at much lower prices and resulting to loss of profit,” Lee said.
HB No. 5742 aims to include the other unlawful act of market abuses; and modify a stricter penalty to those public officials or employees who tolerate, protect, or take part in large-scale agricultural smuggling, and other market abuses, namely but not limited to, hoarding, profiteering, or cartel in the country.
The penalty of up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural product or the product subject to hoarding, profiteering, or cartel and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided plus interest at the prevailing legal rate shall be imposed on any person who violates the law.