Gov't to file cases vs agri hoarders, smugglers — Bersamin
Cases will be filed against hoarders of agricultural products, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin assured the public on Tuesday, July 25.
Bersamin's statement came after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos issued a stern warning against them during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), saying "their days are numbered."
"I think it will be very soon that cases will be filed against the real responsible for smuggling and food hoarding," Bersamin said in an interview.
Marcos' right hand man said the government already validated intelligence reports on the identities of the smugglers and hoarders. Some of them are already known even in the previous administrations.
"Their names have already been mentioned in prior administrations as engaged in smuggling of food products and they are very, very hazardous to our economy and our health," he said.
Bersamin also reiterated the Marcos' order to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to form a task force against anti-smuggling, which is now gathering evidence.
No reports have been forwarded yet to the Office of the President (OP), he said.
"That is a personal undertaking of the President. He really means to deal with these people, the justice that they deserve. His (President) statement yesterday to me was a very correct statement of his sentiment against smuggling and economic sabotage," Bersamin said, adding that the timeline of the filing of cases depends on the strength of the evidence that will be gathered.