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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ejercito seeks sabotage raps as more agri-smugglers operate in PH

Ejercito seeks sabotage raps as more agri-smugglers operate in PH

Published Dec 12, 2022 02:35 pm

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday, December 12, said non-bailable charges of economic sabotage should be filed against agricultural smugglers who are growing in numbers in the Philippines.

Ejercito said the full force of the law should be applied against them to put their illegal activities to a halt.

“Dapat nang buwagin at matauhan ang mga grupo na ito. Sampahan natin sila ng economic sabotage charges dahil walang bail ito. Nakakapinsala na sila sa kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayang magsasaka (These groups must be disbanded and identified. Let's charge them with economic sabotage charges because there is no bail. They are harming the livelihood of our fellow farmers," Ejercito said.

Ejercito made the call following a farmers' group warning that there are now more than 20 smugglers who are now bringing in white and red onions, rice, and frozen meat products illegally to the Philippines.

“As the principal author of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law, nakalulungkot itong balita na marami pa ring agri-smuggler na nag-o-operate sa ating bansa. It’s been six to seven years since the law was passed, ngunit parang nabalewala lang ang batas (This is sad news that there are still many agri-smugglers operating in our country. It's been six to seven years since the law was passed, but the law seems to have been ignored," he pointed out.

“We passed the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling law, classifying large-scale agricultural smuggling as a heinous crime and an economic sabotage. Kaso panay import na lang tayo. Kung hindi smuggled, excessively imported naman ang mga produkto (But all we do is import. If not smuggled, the products are excessively imported),” Ejercito added.

Ejercito had earlier joined Senate Ways and Means Committee chairperson Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and Customs official at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for an ocular inspection and discussion on the agency’s modernization program.

Ejercito said the BOC’s modernization efforts should be towards curbing agricultural smuggling and addressing the alleged widespread corruption within the agency.

“Our aim is to improve needed revenues for the significant programs. Mahalaga rin na mabantayan ang (It’s important to guard this) modernization program na ito dahil laganap pa rin ang smuggling sa iba't ibang bahagi ng bansa (because smuggling activities are prevalent in many parts of the country),” he said.

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