The Bureau of Customs (BOC) must send a strong message to traders involved in the big-time smuggling of agricultural goods.
Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Yap said the BOC can do so by filing air-tight, non-bailable cases against such smugglers, whose acts deprive Filipino farmers of their livelihood.
In particular, Yap said the BOC should act fast in filing criminal cases against the consignees of shipments of alleged smuggled agricultural products worth P20.2 million that were ntercepted by customs authorities at the Port of Subic last week.
"Higit rin sa halagang ito ang muntik nang maging estimated loss ng ating farmers na nagpapakahirap na itanim, anihin, at dalhin ang mga agri produce sa ating mga hapag kainan (This amount or more could have been the estimated loss of our farmers, who toil in farming, harvesting, and delivering these agri produce to our tables)," he said.
Benguet, which Yap represents in the 19th Congress, is a major vegetable producer in the country.
"We are urging the BOC to file a case against those involved sa pagpasok ng mga container shipments na ito sa bansa (in the entry of these container shipments in the country). Bigyan natin ng sample ang agri smugglers, ipakita na may ngipin ang batas natin (Let's make an example out of these agri smugglers, let's show them that our laws have teeth)," the solon said.
Last week, the BOC-Port of Subic, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), intercepted a shipment brought in by Veneta Goods Trading which were declared as assorted foodstuff but actually contained frozen carrots.
Another seized shipment was consigned to Lalavy Aggregates Trading, which were declared as lobster balls and crabsticks. The BOC later discovered that they contained fresh red and white onions.
"Hindi na pwede na puro huli na lang ang nababalitaan natin, pero walang napapakulong? Wala pa rin na smuggler naco-convict, kahit patuloy at harap-harapan na silang illegal na nagpapasok ng agri products sa bansa (We can't afford to have continuous apprehensions but no convictions. No smuggler has been convicted even if they're blatantly and illegally shipping agri products to the country)," Yap said.
Under Republic Act (RA) No.10845, large-scale agricultural smuggling, such as the illegal importation of sugar, corn, pork , poultry, garlic, onion, carrots , fish and cruciferous vegetables worth at least P1 million is considered as economic sabotage.