Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 25) — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said cases will soon be filed against agriculture product smugglers and hoarders as the government continues efforts to address the issue of rising food prices.
“I think it will be very soon that cases will be commenced against people responsible for smuggling and hoarding,” Bersamin told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
During his second state of the nation address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a warning against smugglers and hoarders.
“Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga smuggler at hoarder na ‘yan,” he said.
[Translation: Those smugglers and hoarders’ days are numbered.]
Bersamin said intelligence reports have been validated many times, even during past administrations, regarding possible smugglers. Meanwhile, authorities have also identified possible hoarders, he noted.
Early this month, Marcos instructed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation to look into hoarding, smuggling, and price fixing of agricultural commodities.
The DOJ said it would create an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Task Force focused on protecting the entire agricultural sector.
Bersamin said they have yet to receive a report from the task force, but gathering of evidence is ongoing for case development.
The executive secretary also said the identities of the hoarders will be revealed.
Gov’t officials involved?
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the DOJ is looking into a number of government officials who may be involved in smuggling, particularly of onions and garlic.
He said the bribes for them to allow the illegal entry of goods are seen to run in billions of pesos. He added that such operations may have been running for at least 15 years already.
\”Marami tayong pangalang nais tignan mula sa iba’t ibang ahensya na may kinalaman sa pagpasok at pagbibigay ng mga permiso na ipasok ang mga commodities na pinag-uusapan,\” Remulla told reporters.
[Translation: There are several people from different agencies whom we want to investigate for potentially allowing the entry of these commodities in question.]
The DOJ chief said they plan to conduct a fact-finding investigation within the next two weeks and that this may take a month or two to be finished.
