Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 27) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said the task force created to go after smugglers of agricultural products will start its formal investigation next week.
“The formal fact finding will start next week,” DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
During his second State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is continuously going after smugglers and hoarders seen to be driving up the prices of agricultural commodities. He even issued a warning to them, saying their days are numbered.
In July, the president also ordered a probe into the smuggling of onions and other agricultural products, saying the act was equivalent to economic sabotage.
Remulla said they are looking into 20 possible onion smugglers. Of these, up to four are possibly major players, he added.
Those who smuggle garlic are interrelated with onion smugglers, he noted.
Remulla explained the smugglers have already mastered the industry and can control the system, including the release of local harvest, imported supply, and the use of cold storage facilities.
“It’s actually a micromanaged industry by a cartel because they have the money to buy off all the harvest and they control all the importation kaya yung buong supply system n’yan na-compromise talaga (that is why the whole system was really compromised),” he pointed out.
During the formal fact finding, the Bureau of Plant Industry will be asked to submit importation documents so investigators can trace where the imported agricultural products ended up.
“Hinahanap natin ang timeline ng lahat at kung saan nagpupunta. Ite-trace natin lahat ang pinupuntahan ng bawat permit of importation,” Remulla said.
[Translation: We are looking for the timeline and where they went. We will trace where each import permit ended up. ]
The DOJ chief said the Bureau of Customs will be also asked to explain how this is happening
