Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 18) — Senator Robinhood Padilla wants Bureau of Customs officials and uniformed personnel of the government involved in agricultural smuggling to face death sentence.
“Law enforcement kayo. Pinamumugaran tayo ng smuggling. Sa tingin niyo ba masaya ako na life imprisonment kayo?” he said Thursday during the Senate hearing on the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.
[Translation: You are part of law enforcement, but smuggling is rampant. Do you think I’m satisfied that you will only face life imprisonment?]
\”Magbibigay ako ng panukalang batas na kayo diyan sa Bureau of Customs, kapag kayo ay napatunayan na involved sa smuggling, dapat kamatayan din kayo,\” Padilla added.
[Translation: I will file a bill for those in the Bureau of Customs, if you are involved in smuggling, you should be sentenced to death.]
The neophyte lawmaker later manifested that he wants his proposal for the return of capital punishment to include smuggling of agricultural products among crimes that can be meted the death penalty.
He noted that there could be a “mafia” behind the smuggling scheme.
\”Nagkukwentuhan nga kami ni Senator [JV] Ejercito, parang ang dating ay may mafia na ata diyan sa loob,\” Padilla said.
[Translation: Senator Ejercito and I were discussing earlier that there could be an internal mafia.]
Section 4 of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act states that anyone who violates the measure shall be penalized with \”life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural product and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided.\”
Padilla’s proposal also covers Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police staff.
Meanwhile, BOC spokesperson Vincent Maronilla said erring officers could be those assigned in ports.
\”Kung mayroon man po sa amin, magsisimula po ‘yan sa mga puerto namin. Doon po kasi pinoproseso yung mga shipments na ‘yan,\” said Maronilla.
[Translation: If there are any among us, they could be from our ports. Because the processing of shipments is being done there.]
He added that those who were found to be involved in smuggling are relieved from their posts while an investigation is ongoing.
\”During the investigation, pwede siya i-recommend for suspension kaagad tapos kapag nag-desisyon po, ang usual decision namin ay kasama po yung dismissal sa service at pag-refer po ng matter sa Office of the Ombudsman para po for further execution,\” Maronilla added.
