Malacañang urges Senate to file charges vs gov’t officials in agri smuggling

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 28) — The Palace urged the Senate to file charges against government officials allegedly involved in the smuggling of agricultural products in the country.

Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement on Tuesday that the Senate should slap charges before the Office of the Ombudsman so that the officials tagged as smugglers and their protectors “could be afforded due process, face their accusers, and have their day in court.”

“We are one with the Senate in fighting corruption in the bureaucracy,” Andanar said.

A copy of the committee report earlier filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III identified 22 individuals was released on Monday.

Named in the report were Department of Agriculture (DA) Usec. Ariel Cayanan, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director George Culaste, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Eduardo Gongona.

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero and Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco were also mentioned.

Sen. Nancy Binay, however, believed the report was based on “failed intelligence” as she objected to Tiangco’s inclusion.

Binay said it is “impossible” for Tiangco to serve as a protector of smugglers of BFAR products.

“I know him personally and I believe his name shouldn’t have been in the list in the first place. Sa totoo lang, ever since, sobrang active ni Mayor Toby laban diyan sa pagpuslit ng mga BFAR imported products [Ever since, Mayor Toby has been very active against the smuggling of BFAR imported products],” she said.

The senator also said Tiangco’s inclusion in the report “lacks details and explanation, has no material basis, and is a product of misinformed guesses.”

Sotto, on the other hand, said the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency had validated the list.

“Meaning nasa radar din nila at iniimbestigahan din nila [Meaning they are also on the radar and they are also being investigated],” Sotto said.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), meanwhile, urged President-elect and incoming Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to “dismantle” what it called the “smuggling mafia.”

Guerrero, in a statement, strongly denied that he played a role in the reported agricultural smuggling.

He also claimed that authorities from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police denied the submission of any intelligence report that could implicate any Customs official in the issue.

“I vehemently deny the accusations against me on my alleged involvement in agricultural smuggling based on a supposed “validated” list,” he said.

“The Senate Committee report citing me as one of the government officials involved in agricultural smuggling also contains the numerous accomplishments of BOC in its campaign against agricultural smuggling, and the adoption of the executive recommendations, which I directed,” Guerrero added.