Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25) — The Bureau of Customs is investigating four personalities who have been publicly accused in the large-scale smuggling of agricultural products.
“At the same time, we have issued notices to the ports to be wary of the presence of these individuals, including their cohorts,” Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero said during a briefing to the House Committee on Ways and Means on Monday.
Committee chairperson Joey Salceda asked if this means they could no longer use the “green lane,” a privilege granted to low-risk shipments with no need for documentary review or physical inspection. Guerrero said yes.
The Customs chief also said, “Apparently sir, wala na sila. Blacklisted na sila (Apparently sir, they are no longer in operation. They have been blacklisted).”
He was referring to a certain Manuel Tan, Andrew Chang, Leah “Luz” Cruz and Jun Diamante. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III first dropped their names at a committee-of-the-whole hearing on April 12, saying they are vegetable smugglers allegedly being coddled by agriculture and customs officials.
Sotto said Tan was operating in Subic, Cagayan de Oro and Batangas; Chang at the Manila International Container Port, Port of Manila, Subic and Batangas; Cruz at the MICP and CDO; and Diamante, also in CDO. The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency confirmed they are among more than 20 suspected agricultural smugglers with protectors in government, but the list is still being validated.
In an earlier interview with CNN Philippines, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the agency’s legal department has been investigating “a good number of” DA officials following complaints they are conniving with smugglers. The names of the four alleged big-time smugglers have not cropped up in the internal probe, Dar said.
Agriculture Undersecretary Fermin Adriano said those involved should be charged for violating Republic Act 10845 which considers large-scale agricultural smuggling as “economic sabotage.”
“Mabigat po yung kaso na ‘yun, parang plunder,” Adriano said in a separate media briefing on Monday. “Fina-follow up na namin sa Department of Justice ang pagpo-prosecute ng mga taong ito.”
[Translation: That’s a serious case, comparable to plunder… We are following up with the Department of Justice to prosecute these people.]
Meanwhile, House lawmakers continued to sound the alarm over the importation and smuggling of palm oil. Agriculture officials said the problem lies with the misdeclaration of these shipments as animal feed to avoid tariffs, only to be processed into cooking oil upon their entry to the country.
The Bureau of Animal Industry said permits issued in 2021 covered only some 39 million kilograms of feed-grade palm oil, but Customs data showed over 176 million kilograms entered the country. Salceda said they will conduct another hearing to dig deep on the issue.
