AGRICULTURE Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said a group of smugglers attempted to bribe him to allow the entry of several products into the country.
According to Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras” report, Laurel did not disclose the identity of the alleged smugglers but said it occurred after the Department of Agriculture (DA) discovered the supposed transfer of smuggled products from a condemnation facility.
“Sinuhulan ako ng initially P200,000 to P250,000 per container, 20, tapos umakyat ng P1 million per container. Sinunog namin lahat,” the Agriculture chief said on Thursday, June 27.
Laurel also said the DA canceled the import permit of a rice importer that repeatedly misdeclared the amount of rice products it had been importing into the country.
“Dati kasi ‘pag dumating ‘yung barko tapos 20% lang ang dineclare nila, ina-assume natin, ng buong Pilipinas na 20% lang ang i-a-unload nila, tapos ‘yung iba ilalabas nila papunta sa ibang destination,” he added.
The DA is eyeing to blacklist more companies allegedly involved in smuggling in the coming months, Laurel added. Two are in the fish industry, one in sugar, and another company is in the rice sector.
“You will see in the next few months, marami akong iba-black list na kumpanya. ‘Yung mga smuggler, kahit kaibigan ko iba-blacklist ko. Alam ko ginagawa nila, I am just getting proof. ‘Yung mga smugglers are destroying the industry by undercutting everybody because of illegal acts,” he added.
Local producers hail blacklisting
Local producers welcomed the planned blacklisting of smugglers, saying it would help in setting fair prices in the market.
“So ‘yung unfair practices, ito ‘yung nagpapa-distort din ng presyo doon sa market. ‘Yung mga lehitimo na mga negosyante ay nagpapakahirap, nagtratrabaho at nag ne-negosyo ng tama tapos may mga smuggling na ito,” said Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement Founder Rowena Sadicon.
For its part, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said addressing smuggling also mitigate the public health risks.
“Kapag hindi dumadaan sa mga necessary regulatory requirement itong mga napupunta sa palengke aside from pwedeng maapektuhan ang presyo nalalagay din sa alanganin ang kaligtasan ng publiko,” BFAR Chief Information Officer Nazzer Briguera. (GMA Integrated News)
