Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, will reveal information from “top-level intelligence” about agricultural smuggling in the country “at the proper time".

He said this as the House panel he heads began its inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the “massive smuggling” of agricultural products into the country despite the absence of Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz.

“I also received top-level intelligence from key informants, whose inputs I will release at the proper time,” the lawmaker stressed.

Salceda added that it is “prudent” to start the investigation because of its impact to the economy although the head of the agency that leads the operations against smugglers was not in attendance.

“The Commissioner asked that this meeting be rescheduled, since they are on official travel, however, it is prudent to start the hearing on smuggling plaguing the economy as soon as we can,” he stated in his opening remark at the congressional hearing.

“I also trust that the officials present today are competent professionals who can engage us productively,” the veteran lawmaker and economist furthered.

Ruiz and other Customs officials, who are reportedly in an official trip, would be given time to answer during the committee’s next meeting on Jan. 30, Salceda assured.

Last week, Senator Imee Marcos had also castigated Ruiz for being a no-show at a Senate hearing.

The inquiry into agricultural smuggling is based on House Resolution No. 311 filed by Reps. Horacio Suansing Jr. of Sultan Kudarat 2nd District and Mikaela Angela Suansing of Nueva Ecija 1st District, who noted the “recent proliferation of reports of smuggling activities related to sugar importation".

The resolution directed the House Committee on Ways and Means and other appropriate committees “to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the smuggling of basic commodities and tobacco, and to propose remedial measures".

Salceda said that the public “were bombarded with news reports on massive smuggling of agricultural products in various ports all over the country” over the holidays, “which has triggered the continuing increase in prices of basic commodities, thereby affecting the public".

“In the exercise of our oversight mandate, we, at the Committee on Ways and Means, are eager to resume our investigations on agricultural smuggling, which we have continuously pursued during the 18th Congress.”

The same committee held a motu proprio investigation, in aid of legislation, in 2021 headed by its former members to address the smuggling of meat and meat products, among others, the lawmaker shared.

The Customs bureau, under Ruiz, has seized multi-million worth of smuggled sugar and onions since late 2022 amid rising prices of basic commodities that, at one point, pushed a kilo of red onions to as much as P800.

The country also experienced a shortage in sugar supply allegedly because of smuggling and hoarding.