Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 6) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is working on building an economic sabotage case against a network of industry players involved in the alleged onion cartel, its chief said Thursday.
In a briefing, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the agency has studies on onion smuggling.“We’re looking at all the minutes now of the congressional hearings and we will look at our notes to be able to put together a good case of economic sabotage against those who insist on creating a cartel,” he said when asked about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to investigate the onion smuggling.“We need to build up a case,” Remulla said, noting that the DOJ would also seek evidence.The secretary said the agency is looking at six to seven personalities.“We have a very good idea. We just have to catch them in the act,” he said. “May malaking galamay itong grupo na ito, kino-kontrol nila ang supply.[Translation: This group has a huge network controlling the supply.]Earlier this week, Marcos directed the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to launch a probe into the hoarding and smuggling of onions and other agricultural products.
READ: Marcos orders probe into hoarding, smuggling of agricultural products
One of the names that surfaced during lawmakers’ hearings was Lilia “Lea” Cruz, tagged as the operator behind the “biggest” onion cartel in the country.Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, vice chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee, said in May that Cruz engineered the artificial spike in onion prices late in 2022 until early this year.
Cruz denied having a hand in the spike in prices of onions, which went up to P700 per kilogram in 2022.
Swift passage of amendments to law vs agricultural smuggling
Meanwhile, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has vowed to prioritize the passage of the proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act after the second regular session of the 19th Congress begins on July 24.
“As soon as the start of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress, we will immediately buckle down to work for the passage of the proposed amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act,” the speaker said in a statement.“The inclusion of this measure among the LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Developmant Advisory Council) priority legislation manifests the commitment of Congress to support Pres. Marcos’ drive against unfair business practices that hurt consumers and local farmers alike, but also derail the administration’s efforts to attain food security,” he added.Bills proposing amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act are pending in the House Committee on Agriculture and Food.
Romualdez said the proposed amendments to the law against agricultural smuggling “will institutionalize and improve mechanisms, as well as provide more stringent penalties that would serve as a strong deterrent against smuggling of agricultural products, including onion.”
In a video posted by RTVM Wednesday after the meeting of the LEDAC, the speaker also vowed the passage of 20 of the administration’s priority measures by yearend.
READ: Palace: 20 priority bills eyed for Congress approval by December
