Deeper probe into agri smuggling urged
SENATOR Imee Marcos has called for a deeper investigation of agricultural smuggling and the prosecution of culprits within the first 100 days of the new administration.
Marcos said the actual filing of cases against smugglers will be the measure of the new administration’s seriousness in curbing the misdeclaration and undervaluation of agricultural imports.
“Illegal imports have pulled down local farmgate prices and discouraged farmers from pursuing their livelihood,” the Senate economic affairs committee chairman explained.
However, she added that cases of smuggling cannot be filed in court until the controversy over the list of suspected agricultural smugglers is settled.
“Some people should be on the list, while the inclusion of others is now being argued,” Marcos said of the exchange of words that has ensued between the Senate and officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).
