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Senate report on agri ‘smuggling’ sent to Ombudsman – Sotto

June 29, 2022 Marlon Purification 277 views

SENATE President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday confirmed that the Senate Committee of the Whole report with a list of individuals, including several Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Department of Agriculture (DA) officials allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling, has been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Pinadala ko yung kopya sa Ombudsman, ‘di lang yung listahan pinadala ko sa Ombudsman yung buong committee report. Nandoon yung rekomendasyon ng buong committee ng Senado kung sino-sino ang dapat kasuhan kumpleto ‘yon,” Sotto said.

Sotto led the investigation into the “rampant” agricultural smuggling in the country, and he added that the report was also transmitted to President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who will be heading the DA upon his assumption of office.

The Senate President explained that a copy of the report must be given to the Ombudsman because it is their job to investigate and file necessary charges against those who were proven involved in the illegal importation of food products in the country.

The lawmaker also reiterated his warning against the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) if they continue to deny that they are not the ones who provided the list to his office.

“They are playing on words kaya pinakamaganda, mas maganda tumahimik na lang. ‘Wag na nilang kontrahin ang committee report ng Senado dahil kapag kinontra nila ‘yon, mapipilitan ako na ilabas lahat,” Sotto said.