Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday drew parallels between the smuggling of agricultural products and the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which have been banned in the country since 2024.
During the resumption of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform’s investigation into agricultural smuggling, Pangilinan, who chairs the committee, said both illegal activities appear to involve organized syndicates with Chinese nationals at the helm, with the help of Filipino accomplices in government.
“Tulad ng pagkokorap ng burukrasya sa POGO, pagkokorap sa burukrasya dahil sa smuggling, kamadang sindikato,” Pangilinan said in his opening statement. “Lumalabas na ang mga exporter puro galing China, yung mga nahuli, yung mga nakumpiska, kumpanya may involve na Chinese national.”
He noted that based on the committee’s findings, the operations bear a strong resemblance to the POGO controversy, where Chinese nationals were also implicated.
“Nabubuo na ang big picture, parang sa mga POGO galing China ang isang ulo ng kamadang sindikato sa agriculture smuggling,” he said.
“Malaking panganib ang mga smuggled na pagkain, walang physical inspection o chemical analysis, wala ring tests para sa lason o virus o bacteria para masabi na expired na ito o fit for human consumption. Tulad nga sa POGO, may mga kasabwat na mga Pilipino. At malamang ang inaangkat na frozen fish ay sa atin din nahuli, sa West Philippine Sea. Ang ating mga isda, ninanakaw nila at ibinebenta sa atin pabalik," the senator added.
Pangilinan cited as an example the ₱68-million shipment of frozen mackerel from China that was declared as “chicken poppers” in import documents to enter through Subic.
The senator described the scheme as economic sabotage, saying dummy consignees, insiders, and corrupt officials from agencies such as the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and possibly the Department of Agriculture (DA) are allegedly colluding to allow smuggled goods to enter the country.
“Unti-unting nabubunyag ang bulok na sistema kung saan ang mga dummy consignee at insiders nagsasabwatan kasama ang ilang opisyal ng Customs at posible rin taga-DA. Hindi ito small type, ito ay economic sabotage,” Pangilinan emphasized.
He added that under Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agriculture Economic Sabotage Act, the penalty for such a crime is life imprisonment and a fine three times the value of the smuggled goods.
“Lahat ng pag-smuggle ng pagkain, kaaway ng Pilipinong magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamimili,” he added.
Pangilinan further said there is “sufficient circumstantial evidence” to believe that Chinese smuggling syndicates have been operating in connivance with local businessmen and government officials from several agencies, including the BOC, DA, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Immigration (BI).
“Hindi lamang pagnanakaw ang agriculture smuggling, pagtataksil ito sa ating mga magsasaka, mamimili, at mangingisda,” Pangilinan said.
He also lamented that despite numerous investigations, no major smuggler has ever been jailed.
“Kung ang flood control scandal ang pinakamalaking corruption scandal sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ang panawagan ng ating kababayan ay ikulong ang mga kurakot,” he said. “Dito sa usapan ng smuggling na may kamadang sindikato, wala pa ring nakukulong na smuggler. Kaya titiyakin natin na tutuloy natin ang imbestigasyon.”
