SENATORS echoed one voice in condemning smuggling activities as well as “hoarding, profiteering and cartel” that is hurting the Philippine economy.

Senator Cynthia Villar expressed her “amazement” that despite all the issues on smuggling, hoarding and profiteering as well as the so-called “cartel” of agricultural products, no one has ever been convicted since tne enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act in 2016.

Presiding over the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform hearing on measures seeking to amend RA 10845 on May 18, 2023, Villar said the law was enacted for the “purpose of protecting farmers and the local agricultural industry from agricultural smuggling.”

However, she said, “we could barely feel the positive impact of this law.”

Among the amendments proposed are the inclusion of the acts of hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural products in its list of crimes involving economic sabotage; and the creation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Task Force, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court, and a special team of prosecutors to assist the task force in the expeditious prosecution of cases under the law.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros and Senator Robinhood Padilla who were present during the hearing were one in saying that government officials involved in smuggling must be held answerable and accountable.

Hontiveros wanted to penalize government officials who facilitate, conspire, or act as an “accomplice” in any form of agricultural smuggling.

During the hearing, Hontiveros cited the absence of a provision that will penalize government officials involved in agricultural smuggling under RA 19845.

“Given the gravity of agricultural smuggling and its far-reaching consequences, it seems to me that we also need to punish the government officials who allow these acts,” Hontiveros said.

“Agricultural smuggling is costing the government billions of pesos a year in lost revenues. Smuggling of regulated agricultural commodities has also led to soaring prices for consumers, the violation of our competition laws, and most importantly, the further decline of our domestic agricultural sector,” Hontiveros stated in her Senate Bill (SB) No. 2205.

Hontiveros’ bill seeks to amend RA 10845 to hold liable government officials that act as co-conspirators and accomplices of agricultural smugglers.

“It is time to hold accountable government officials who allow smuggling to persist unfettered,” she added.

Sen. Padilla, for his part, proposed death penalty against “rogue” law enforcement personnel involved in heinous crimes, including murder, illegal drug trade, and agricultural smuggling.

During the hearing, Padilla backed tighter moves against agricultural smuggling schemes in the country, as well as the prosecution of smugglers and economic saboteurs.

“It is agonizing to think that criminals are from law enforcement. In smuggling the livelihoods of farmers and the industries of rice, sugar, onions and tobacco, to name a few,” Padilla said.

The senator said he intends to file a bill that will impose capital punishment on those found guilty of smuggling activities, including Customs officers and employees.