MORE individuals were cited in contempt during the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform’s public hearing on the multi-million-peso agricultural smuggling on Monday, Oct. 20.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan cited in contempt individuals allegedly linked to the illegal entry of smuggled frozen mackerel in the country after they had failed to respond to the questions raised during the hearing.
The individuals cited in contempt and set to remain in the Senate’s detention facility include Mr. Erwin Pascual of EPCB Consumer Goods Trading, Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic Deputy Collector for Assessment Andrew Malcolm Calixihan, and BOC-Port of Subic Acting Customs Operations Officer Mary Anabelle Gubaton.
The Senator pointed out inconsistencies in Ms. Gubaton’s statements regarding the release of misdeclared agricultural shipments from the Port of Subic, despite the absence of essential documentation.
He also questioned Gubaton’s claim of not knowing a certain Mr. Chuggs, who was allegedly the “dispatcher” responsible for instructing three truck drivers to transport the smuggled frozen mackerel out of the Port of Subic.
Similarly, Calixihan denied knowing a certain “Mr. Chuggs,” prompting Pangilinan to assert that he had misled the Committee due to discrepancies in his testimony.
“There is a difference between not being able to explain it and saying, giving us testimony that is untruthful, and therefore, we will move to cite you in contempt of this Committee, Mr. Calixihan. Your explanation is unacceptable and does not satisfy this Committee,” he added.
Similarly, the Senator cited Pascual in contempt after he misled the Committee’s understanding of not knowing a broker named Ellaine Joy Gedaria. This inconsistency was particularly concerning, as he had identified her as the declarant for the 14 containers listed in the annexes of his affidavit. Additionally, Pascual had listed his nephew as the owner of EPCB, even though he later admitted to being the true owner himself.
Earlier, Pangilinan also allowed Brenda de Sagun of Berches Consumer Goods Trading temporary liberty and ordered the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to accompany her as she looked for a “Mr. Vicente.”
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