President Marcos has urged the people of Capiz to help in the fight against smuggling and hoarding of agricultural goods amid the high prices of food commodities in the country.

Speaking before beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Roxas City, Capiz on Friday, Oct. 6, Marcos sought their help to safeguard the local market from smugglers and hoarders, who continue to manipulate the prices of agricultural goods.
This as he aired his sentiments anew over smuggling and hoarding, which the government considers as among the factors causing the high prices of goods.
"Maki-lahok sa pagbabantay sa ating lipunan! Marami pa rin pong tayong [malayang nakapanloloko] ng kapwa. Tunay pong nakakagalit ang mga smuggler at hoarder na iyan (Join the efforts to safeguard the society. There are still many people who openly dupe their fellowmen. These smugglers and hoarders are truly infuriating)," Marcos said.
"Nasisira ang daloy ng merkado kaya tumataas ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin dahil sa kanilang mga ilegal na gawain (It disrupts the flow in the market, the reason why prices of basic commodities are rising, it is because of their illegal acts)," Marcos added.
The President also told the people of Capiz that the administration is already coordinating with legislators to amend the Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, and impose severe sanctions to these perpetrators and their accomplices.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan din tayo sa Kongreso na maamyendahan ang ilang batas upang tuluyan nang maging krimen ang agricultural economic sabotage at mapabigat ang parusa dito (We are coordinating with the Congress to amend some laws to make economic sabotage as a crime that will warrant severe punishment),” he said.
Last month, the Chief Executive has certified as urgent a bill redefining and imposing stiffer penalties against crimes of agricultural economic sabotage.
Marcos was in Capiz to distribute about a thousand sacks of seized smuggled rice to 4Ps beneficiaries.
These rice donations are still a part of the 42,180 smuggled sacks worth P42 million that the Bureau of Customs confiscated in Zamboanga City in September.