DA exec admits ‘big-time’ personalities involved in smuggling called up to ask favors

A Department of Agriculture (DA) official on Monday admitted that “big-time” personalities allegedly involved in smuggliing have called him ip when cases are being prepared against them.

DA Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste Jr. confirmed this at the second hybrid hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole into the rampant agricultural smuggling in the Philippines.

Benguet Provincial Board member Robert Namoro initially asked Laciste what transpired during a dialogue with Benguet farmers and officials from the Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) and the DA last March 19.

In that meeting, Namoro said Laciste admitted that big-time individuals who are involved in smuggling would call him “every now and then for favors.”

Namoro said Laciste especially mentioned politicians: “And I just want to clarify this issue if this is really the statement of Laciste during the meeting.”

When Senate President Vicente Sotto III called on Laciste to confirmed this, the DA executive said "yes."

“Yes, Mr. President, na-mention ko po yun (Yes I did mention that),” Laciste said in response to Sotto.

“Meron po kasing nung mga hinuhuli ko sir, nung mga cases nung 2021, may mga tumatawag po kasi sa akin noon mga matataas na tao (I was pursuing criminal cases against some of them sir in 2021, there were people who called me up, they were big-time personalities),” Laciste said.

“Mga dating nakapwesto (they were former government officials),” Laciste added but did not elaborate.

According to Laciste, he did not act on their favors and pushed through with the filing of cases.

When asked to divulge the identities of the said callers, Laciste requested if he can divulge the names during an executive session.

Sotto instead asked the DA official to write down the names and submit to the Senate panel the list.

“We will know how to handle it,” the Senate leader said.