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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate panel cites alleged Chinese agri-smuggler in contempt

Senate panel cites alleged Chinese agri-smuggler in contempt

Published Dec 10, 2025 01:36 pm

At A Glance

  • A Senate panel on Wednesday, Dec. 10, cited alleged agricultural smuggler Chaoquin Shi in contempt for repeatedly lying under oath about having no Philippine contacts.
A Senate panel on Wednesday, Dec. 10, cited alleged agricultural smuggler, Chaoquin Shi, in contempt for repeatedly lying under oath about having no Philippine contacts.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform cites an alleged agricultural smuggler, Chaoquin Shi, in contempt for repeatedly lying under oath. (Photo from OS Erwin Tulfo)
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform cites an alleged agricultural smuggler, Chaoquin Shi, in contempt for repeatedly lying under oath. (Photo from OS Erwin Tulfo)
The motion came after Senator Erwin Tulfo, along with Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Senator Raffy Tulfo, pressed Shi on who facilitated his business dealings in the Philippines during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform.
“I move to cite this person in contempt for continuously lying before this committee. Kanina pa po eh. Niloloko tayo. Wala siyang kakayahan, nag-negosyo siya dito isang chinese, pero walang contact? (It’s been going on for a while now. They’re making a fool out of us. He doesn’t have the capability — he came here to do business, a Chinese national, but he has no contacts?)” Tulfo asserted.
Before this, Tulfo warned the resource persons in the hearing not to lie so they will not be of the same fate as Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic Acting Chief of Assessment Juan San Andres, who is currently detained in the Senate detention facility.
“Answer us correctly—you swore to tell the truth. It looks like you might want to visit downstairs, in our detention facility, that's not a problem. That goes to all of you,” warned the lawmaker.
Shi, identified as one of the lessees in Vigour Freezer and previously apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for alleged involvement in smuggling, repeatedly claimed that since his arrival in the Philippines in 2017, he had not had any local contacts.
“Who did you talk to for your passport, or to move around the Philippines?” Senator Raffy asked.
“When I came here, I have no one to help me, no one to rely on,” Shi responded through his interpreter.
When asked by Chairman Pangilinan to explain why he should not be cited in contempt, Shi offered a similar unsatisfactory response: “I really don’t know anyone when I came here so I cannot really say anything to say to you that what I am saying is the truth. I just came here with my knowledge that I would just want to do this kind of business, but I really don’t know anyone. Even if I want to do this business, I don’t have anyone to help me.”
This was deemed insufficient by the Committee, officially leading to Shi being cited for contempt.
Senator Erwin then urged the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to coordinate with the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), so Shi will stay at the Senate detention facility instead of the BI Warden’s Facility.
Shi, a Chinese national and payor of Freezer No. 8 in Vigour Global Freezer, was apprehended by the BI at the airport while attempting to leave the country. He was arrested for violating his 9(g) or long-term work visa prior to his appearance in the Senate hearing.

Related Tags

agriculture Erwin Tulfo Raffy Tulfo Kiko Pangilinan
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