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SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan revealed the names of companies and individuals suspected to have misdeclared smuggled frozen mackarel, red and white onions—valued above the threshold amount of ?10Million for it to fall under the non-bailable offense of economic sabotage.
The list was disclosed during the first public hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, which the senator chairs, on Wednesday, August 20.
Pangilinan said he would urge the Bureau of Customs (BOC) next hearing to explain what happened to these alleged smugglers.
“Ang concern natin diyan, non-bailable di ba? Kung talagang yun ang ilalabas na actual na valuation eh di dapat masampa agad ang kaso at ma issue na ng Korte ang warrant of arrest yun at vaka tumakas pa, di na makakalabas ng kulungan yun habang nililitis,” he said.
“Technically, kung may basehan… dapat sampahan na ng kaso at arestuhin na ang mga ito,” Pangilinan furthered, adding that they should also be blacklisted from future importation.
The senator identified the following as the suspected smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products:
– 1024 Consumer Goods Trading (Customs Broker: Loujin Arm Ramos Tenero)
– Berches Consumer Goods Trading (Customs Brokers: Berly Bitoy Ramos, Efren Yu Abello Jr., Gretchen Francisco Gimeno, Jason Alolor Ejes, John Cyril Mapa Imperial, Kimmuel Gler Lopez, Lyn Dinglasan Estrella, Muscholary Rose Sinuto Gonzales, Myr Dela Torre Ramos, Richelle Bautista Ramirez, and Rodalyn Goc Ong)
– EPCB Consumer Goods Trading (Customs Broker: Ellaine Joy Gedaria)
– Queenstar Industry Consumer Trading (Customs Broker: Judy Ann Gumban Jungco
– Vox Enterprises OPC (Customs Broker: Abegail Gruta Yumang)
His concern, Pangilinan said, is that the P15 million to P20 million worth of confiscated goods reported initially might be manipulated to be just below P10 million in the final documentation.
Under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, smuggling of agricultural products worth P10 million and up is a non-bailable offense
The senator lamented that since President Marcos signed the law in September 2024, only three cases have been filed and all are still under investigation. Those who have been arrested and imprisoned were warehouse personnel, and not the actual brokers and smugglers.
“Ibig sabihin walang nakumpiska above 10 million? Puro below. Mahirap intindihin yun dahil the rice industry is a 300 billion-plus industry. Alangan naman na lless than 10 million lang ang pumapasok,” he said.
“Ang laking dagok nito sa local producers natin dahil yun na nga, nakikipag-kumpetensiya at dahil dagok, ayaw na mag-tanim sa susunod na planting season dahil hindi na makipag-compete dito sa smuggled items,” Pangilinan added. “Legitimate imported rice nagkukumpetensiya na sila tapos sa smuggled pa na items.”
During the hearing, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. underscored the agency’s need for enforcement powers, so it can go after smugglers and brokers.
The committee is scheduled to hold another hearing on the issues of smuggling and importation of rice and other products on Sept. 1.
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