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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon prods BOC: File case vs agri smugglers

Solon prods BOC: File case vs agri smugglers

Published Dec 11, 2022 03:38 pm

Benguet Lone District Rep. Eric Yap on Sunday, Dec. 11, urged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to pursue a legal case against so-called agricultural smugglers who illegally import agricultural products into country that directly impacts local farmers.

Benguet Rep. Eric Yap (Photo from Rep. Yap via Facebook)

In particular, the lawmaker pointed to the consignees—Veneta Consumer Goods Trading and Lalavy Aggregates Trading—of recently intercepted shipments by the BOC - Port of Subic and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“We are urging the BOC to file a legal case against those involved sa pagpasok ng (in the entry of) container shipments na ito sa bansa. Bigyan natin ng sample ang agri smugglers, ipakita na may ngipin ang batas natin (in the country. Let’s give the agri smugglers an example, let’s show that the law has teeth),” he said in a statement.

“More than one million ang halaga nito, dapat (This is worth more than one million, there should be) no bail. Pangalanan lahat, kasuhan, at ipakulong e (Name them all, file cases, and send them to prison),” Yap called.

According to the congressman, the smuggled products—fresh red and white onions as reported—amounted to P20.19 million.

Smuggling beyond P1 million worth of products is a non-bailable offense in the Philippines.

He lamented that the estimated loss to farmers who toiled to deliver agricultural products to families would have been more than P20.19 million if the smuggled products reached the local markets.

Yap alleged that despite reports of arrest and seizure of container shipments, no smuggler has been convicted.

"They're not even trying to conceal these shipments anymore. Why? Wala naman kasing napapakulong (Nobody gets imprisoned)," he said.

While he would wait for BOC to file cases against Veneta Consumer Goods Trading and Lalavy Aggregates Trading, the lawmaker warned that if the consignees are not put behind bars, he would file a House Resolution to inquire why they were not made to pay for their crimes despite the evidence.

He also plans to raise the issue in the forthcoming Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food since the panel is discussing Yap’s House Bill (HB) No. 319 (Increasing Penalties on Vegetable Smuggling) and House Resolution No. 108 (Investigating the Continued Smuggling of Agri Products).

“Pinapatay ng agricultural smuggling ang kabuhayan ng ating mga farmers. Niloloko nila ang sambayanang Pilipino, tumatakas sila sa tamang proseso. Lahat tayo nagbabayad ng buwis tapos itong mga smugglers na ito, di na nga nagbabayad, kumita na sila, hindi pa sila napapakulong. Bigyang tuldok na ang problemang ito (Agricultural smuggling kills the livelihood of our farmers. They make a fool of Filipinos, evading the correct process. We are all paying taxes but these smugglers don’t even pay but earn anyway and don’t get imprisoned. Let’s put a stop to this problem),” the lawmaker said.

“Hindi tayo titigil hangga't walang napapanagot (We are not going to stop until no one is held liable),” he added.

Related Tags

da house bill no. 319 Eric Yap BOC SMUGGLING agricultural products farmers
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