President Marcos renewed his government's resolve to combat smuggling and hoarding in the country, vowing that he would not let anyone take advantage of Filipinos.

Marcos said this as he led the distribution of confiscated mackerel to 21,000 households in Baseco in Manila on Saturday, Dec. 14.

In a social media post, the President vowed to fight illegal activities to ensure Filipinos have access to cheap goods.

"Uulitin ko, hindi natin papayagang maisahan ang mga Pilipino (I repeat: We will not let Filipinos be taken advantage of)," he wrote on Facebook.

"Patuloy nating lalabanan ang smuggling at hoarding upang masiguro na ang pagkain ay abot-kaya, sapat at nakakarating sa bawat pamilya (We will continue fighting smuggling and hoarding to ensure that food remains affordable, sufficient, and accessible to every family)," he added.

During the distribution of the seized goods, Marcos tried to make light of the situation by saying that the government's Christmas gift to Filipinos had changed.

"Imbes na hamon at saka mga lechon, isda, tulingan ang aming dala. Para naman hindi masayang (Instead of ham and sukling pig, we bring you fish. So it won't go to waste)," he told the beneficiaries at the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Elementary School Gym.

Some 21,000 households of Barangay 649 in Baseco received the donated goods through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Each household got two kilos of mackerel.

The frozen mackerel will also be distributed to the poorest barangays of 17 other local governments in Metro Manila, Obando and Meycauayan in Bulacan, and Bacoor in Cavite.

Select city jails, public hospitals, and various care facilities will likewise receive the confiscated goods. An estimated 150,000 families will benefit from the donation.

On Sept. 28 and 29, 21 containers of frozen mackerel shipments from China, with an estimated market value of PhP178.5 million, were seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).