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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider File raps vs blacklisted fish importers, Yamsuan tells DA 

File raps vs blacklisted fish importers, Yamsuan tells DA 

Published Jul 3, 2024 07:47 am

At A Glance

  • The Department of Agriculture (DA) should press charges against the fish importers that would get blacklisted as a result of its campaign against agricultural smuggling, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said.
  • Yamsuan chairs the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources. 

IMG-88ad930a3f28bb12466e1c7dc3b24ff6-V.jpgBicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan (PPAB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Department of Agriculture (DA) should press charges against the fish importers that would get blacklisted as a result of its campaign against agricultural smuggling. 

Thus, said House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources Chairman Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, who commended the agency for intending to get tough on unscrupulous traders.  

“We will await the action of the [DA] on this matter. We are counting on Agriculture Secretary (Francisco Tiu) Laurel (Jr.) to make his move soon against these suspected smugglers,” Yamsuan said¡ referring to he filing of criminal cases in court. 

Yamsuan issued the statement in response to Laurel’s recent announcement of his plan to blacklist at least four importers suspected of acts classified as economic sabotage. Laurel said they involve one rice importer, two fish traders and a sugar importer.  

“Blacklisting erring agricultural importers should not be the DA’s only measure against them. If there is enough evidence, then criminal cases should be hurled against them in court,” noted Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).   

The rookie congressman said blacklisted companies may just resort to using dummy firms to continue their illegal activities.  

Yamsuan pointed out that under the current law, large-scale fish smuggling is classified as economic sabotage if the amount of the goods/ subject of the crime is at least P1 million as valued by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).  

The punishment for this crime under Republic Act (RA) No.10845 is life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled fish products, along with the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges involved.  

The measure has already been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and is awaiting the President’s signature.  

“We hope that this  will be signed by the President and enacted soon so that it could serve as a strong deterrent to agricultural smugglers,” Yamsuan said.  

“Agricultural smugglers undermine our collective goal to attain food security and jeopardizes the livelihood of our farmers and fisherfolk. They also place the safety of consumers at risk because smuggled food products do not undergo the necessary measures that are meant to ensure that these are fit and safe for human consumption,” he added.
 

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Department of Agriculture (DA) agricultural smuggling Brian Raymund Yamsuan
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