Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan warned that more Chinese nationals involved in agricultural smuggling may soon be identified, following the Senate’s detention of Chaoqun Shi, who was earlier cited in contempt for allegedly lying during a Senate agriculture probe. Shi is linked to a warehouse raid in Toclong, Kawit, Cavite, where large volumes of imported meat and fish were discovered.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, said the panel already holds a list of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in smuggling operations, but noted that additional evidence is needed before action can be taken. He expressed hope that Shi will eventually reveal his accomplices, not only among fellow foreign nationals but also among alleged protectors within government agencies.

According to Pangilinan, agricultural smuggling remains driven by a “large syndicate,” citing that of the 127 smuggling cases recorded from 2021 to 2025, only four have resulted in the filing of charges. He added that 90 percent of dismissed cases stemmed from the Bureau of Customs’ failure to submit original documents.

The senator lamented that despite the scale of the illegal operations—and the suspected involvement of personnel from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Immigration (BI), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine National Police (PNP)—no major personalities have yet been jailed.