Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Wednesday, December 10 ordered the arrest of alleged Chinese smuggler Chaoqun Shi, citing him in contempt for allegedly lying about his role in the multimillion-peso illegal importation of agricultural products unfit for human consumption.
Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to arrest Shi, the lessee of a freezer that held ₱100 million worth of smuggled frozen meat. Shi denied colluding with Philippine officials or Filipino-Chinese associates.
He faced a contempt citation after Senator Erwin Tulfo moved to hold him accountable for allegedly providing false information to the committee.
“Ang hinala natin, there seems to be circumstantial evidence to point to other people involved na malakas ang kapit dahil wala pang nakakasuhan after one year and a half,” Tulfo said.
“So, we recognize that Mr. Shi may be a vital witness to point to other officials of government, perhaps private sector, financiers who are behind this and possible other smuggling operations in the country,” he added.
Shi leased Freezer No. 8 from Vigour Global Logistics Corp. in Kawit, Cavite, where authorities in May 2024 discovered the smuggled meat. He admitted storing products from warehouses No. 6 and No. 7, intended for now-closed restaurants in Pasay City.
Pangilinan highlighted “systematic lapses” and “possible collusion in port operations.”
“Hindi ito isolated lapse. Patunay ito ng isang malawak na operasyon na umaasa sa mga butas ng sistema,” he said, emphasizing the human rights impact.
“Ang resulta nito ay mahabang kadena ng pinsala sa karapatang pantao: sa pagkawala ng kita ng magsasaka at mangingisda, sa pagkalugi, sa kawalan ng oportunidad para sa mga manggagawa, at sa mga mamimiling nawawalan ng access sa ligtas, masustansya, sapat at abot-kayang pagkain,” Pangilinan added.
The senator vowed to fully expose smuggling networks.
“Dahil sa isang bansang humihingi ng hustisya para sa magsasaka, mangingisda, manggagawa, at mamimili, hindi tayo papayag na ang smuggling at katiwalian ang magtakda ng presyo, magdikta ng seguridad, at magpahina ng ating karapatan at kinabukasan,” he said.