BoC urged to file case vs consignees of container shipments with smuggled agri goods
BENGUET Congressman Eric Yap incited the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to file a legal case against the consignees of the container shipments with agricultural products believed to be smuggled that were intercepted by the BOC – Port of Subic and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“P20.193 Million – ito ang halaga ng nasabat na agri products na muntik na makalabas ng port at mabenta sa ating local markets. Higit rin sa halagang ito ang muntik na estimated loss ng ating farmers na nagpakahirap na itanim, anihin, at dalhin ang mga agri produce sa ating mga hapag kainan,” Yap said.
“We are urging the BOC to file a legal case against those involved sa pagpasok ng container shipments na ito sa bansa. Bigyan natin ng sample ang agri smugglers, ipakita na may ngipin ang batas natin. More than one million ang halaga nito, dapat no bail. Pangalanan lahat, kasuhan, at ipakulong,” the solon pronounced.
“Hindi na pwede na puro huli na lang ang nababalitaan natin, pero walang napapakulong? Wala pa rin na smuggler nacoconvict, kahit patuloy at harap-harapan na silang illegal na nagpapasok ng agri products sa bansa. They’re not even trying to conceal these shipments anymore. Why? Wala naman kasing napapakulong,” Yap noted.
“Hihintayin natin ang kasong iffile ng BOC laban sa consignees sa shipments na ito. Non-bailable ang pag-smuggle ng above P1M. ‘Pag hindi pa nakulong ang consignees, brokers, at iba pang involved dito, paano na? Magffile uli tayo ng House Resolution na mag-iinquire na bakit wala pa rin napapakulong kahit may ebidensya naman. Gusto natin malaman paano masisiguro na mapapanagot ang mga smugglers na ito,” the solon stated.
“Pinapatay ng agricultural smuggling ang kabuhayan ng ating mga farmers. Niloloko nila ang sambayanang Pilipino, tumatakas sila sa tamang proseso. Lahat tayo nagbabayad ng buwis tapos itong mga smugglers na ito, di na nga nagbabayad, kumita na sila, hindi pa sila napapakulong. Bigyang tuldok na ang problemang ito,” he added.
“We will definitely raise this issue in the forthcoming Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food as we further discuss House Bill No. 319 (Increasing Penalties on Vegetable Smuggling) and House Resolution No. 108 (Investigating the Continued Smuggling of Agri Products). Hindi tayo titigil hangga’t walang napapanagot,” Yap pronounced.
