Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has raised the possibility of collusion among officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and Department of Agriculture (DA) in the persistent smuggling of agricultural products into the country.
The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform made the statement after conducting an inspection of several container vans at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
According to Pangilinan, circumstantial evidence points to a coordinated effort among the three agencies.
He lamented that despite having long-established anti-smuggling laws and frequent seizures of smuggled agricultural goods, no one has ever been jailed for the offense.
“This is what we intend to expose in our ongoing Senate inquiry on the smuggling of agricultural products,” Pangilinan said, adding that the system resembles that of flood control and POGO operations, where multiple actors—from Chinese importers to local consignees—allegedly benefit, aided by inconsistent and falsified documents that hinder successful prosecution.
The senator expressed confidence in BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno’s ability to address and resolve the issue.
Pangilinan also warned that the ₱13 million worth of seized frozen chicken could be contaminated with bird flu and E. coli, posing a serious public health risk if it reaches local markets.
He further cautioned that unchecked smuggling could threaten the livelihood of local poultry farmers, who continue to suffer from the influx of illegal agricultural imports.