A neophyte congressman wants government officials who are allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling probed and subsequently punished if proven guilty.

"Kailangan ding imbestigahan at mapanagot ang mga nasa pamahalaan na may mga link sa agri-smuggling (We also need to investigate and hold accountable those in government who have links to agrii-smuggling)," AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said on Saturday, Jan. 7.

Lee gave this remark even as he backed the plan of his fellow Bicolano, Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, to go after agriculture smugglers through the actions of the House Committee on Ways and Means, which the latter chairs.

"It's high time that Congress, through its powers of legislation and oversight, gets involved in the fight before things get totally out of control. Kumilos na tayo para sa ating mga kababayan na nagdurusa dahil sa pambibiktima ng mga agricultural smugglers (Let us now act for the sake of our countrymen who are suffering from the handiwork of agricultural smugglers)," Lee said.

Local farmers are arguably the biggest losers amid incidents of agricultural smuggling, since the entry of cheap produce from other countries makes it harder for them to sell their own produce at a reasonable price.

Salceda earlier vowed that Congress, through an independent panel, would fight against agri-smugglers who for a long time have contributed to the deterioration of local farm industries and manipulating market prices.

“For this reason, I will be asking an independent panel such as the Institute for Solidarity in Asia to see what changes we can further bring to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to tighten agricultural smuggling enforcement,” Salceda said.

Lee, who hails from Sorsogon, said he would fully support Salceda in his efforts.

"This is an issue that transcends the divisions in Congress. Sa harap ng ganito kalaki at katalamak na problema, kailangang sama-sama tayong umaaksyon (We need to act in unison in the face of this enormous and widespread problem)," the solon said.