GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija –”Walang kaibigan, walang kamag-anak kung sino talaga ang gumagawa ng masama dapat imbestigahan at patawan ng parusa kung napatunayang may sala.”

Thus stressed Senator Imee Marcos as she said that those involved especially in agricultural smuggling whether friends or relatives must be investigated and punished if found guilty.

The presidential sister was here Monday morning to lead the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the distribution of P3-million worth of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) worth P3,000 each to 1,000 beneficiaries, comprising of 676 women-leaders, 100 PWDs (persons with disabilities), 224 senior citizens, of the town’s 64 barangays. The senator also gave a P5-million agricultural grant to the local government unit during her visit here.

“Yes tama iyun (imbestigahan at kasuhan), maraming dinadawit na pangalan na malalakas daw sa Palasyo, palagay ko walang kaibigan, walang kamag-anak, ang dapat dito lahat imbestigahan,” the Senator told mediamen in an interview shortly after the AICS distribution.

She also lamented that “no smugglers have been arrested and convicted until now since the passage of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.1″

Senator Marcos also mentioned a bill by Senator Cynthia Villar which proposes the putting up of agricultural courts for these types of cases.

“Sana nga magtuloy-tuloy na ito, parang lahat ng tao, alam na lahat ito pati ang media, ang mga dawit sa smuggling, ipinahiwatig na, andiyan na ang mga pangalan, pati address ng bodega alam na, eh bakit hindi pa din nahuhuli, nakakapagtaka,” she added.

Earlier in the day, Senator Marcos was in nearby Cuyapo town to also lead the distribution of P3-million worth of AICS to women-leaders.

She said these financial grants were given to women-leaders here as part of the celebration of the National Women’s month this March.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Steve A. Gosuico