MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Monday warned government personnel that his office will aggressively prosecute anyone found protecting, facilitating, or profiting from illicit agricultural trade.
Speaking at the Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters in Manila, Remulla asserted that no official will be exempted from accountability if linked to agricultural economic sabotage.
“Wherever there is evidence that a public official has abused the position to enable, protect or profit from agricultural economic sabotage, the Office of the Ombudsman will not look the other way,” Remulla declared.
“There can be no sacred cows. Wala kaming sasantuhin dito. Ang laban sa agricultural economic sabotage ay laban rin sa korapsyon. And we will continue to ensure that those who abuse public office are held to account,” he added.
Remulla issued the statement during the signing of a joint agreement between the DOJ, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Executed by Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, and NBI Director Melvin Matibag, the deal aims to streamline multi-agency operations against illegal agricultural and fishery imports.
The pact establishes operational mechanisms for intelligence sharing, joint case build-ups, evidence evaluation, investigation, and courtroom prosecution.
“We cannot have one agency holding one piece of information, another agency holding another, and expect government to see the entire picture,” Remulla noted. “We have to connect the dots. We have to share information. And we have to build cases that will stand in court. Mabigat na krimen ang Agricultural Economic Sabotage.”
The Ombudsman highlighted the severe economic toll smuggling takes on local food producers, stating that illegal importations undermine the livelihoods of Filipino agricultural workers.
“Sa bawat produktong pang-agrikulturang pinupuslit papasok sa bansa, nababalewala at nasasayang ang pagod at sakripisyo ng bawat magsasaka at mangingisda na marangal na kumakayod araw-araw para sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Remulla emphasized.
Illegal trade remains a major drain on government resources.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto previously estimated that annual state revenue losses from smuggling—encompassing agricultural goods, fuel, and general merchandise—reach approximately ₱150 billion.