Senator Kiko Pangilinan did not mince words as he flagged Chinese companies and individuals, local businessmen, and even government officials and employees behind the multi-million-peso agricultural smuggling that he said continues to impoverish farmers, fisherfolk, and Filipino consumers.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Pangilinan pointed out that agricultural smuggling and the controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) share the same source—China.
“There is sufficient circumstantial evidence to believe that Chinese smuggling syndicates, in connivance with local businessmen, protected by a number of employees and officials of the government in the BOC, NBI, PNP, DA, and perhaps even in the DOJ and the BI (Bureau of Immigration) who allow these Chinese smugglers and their local partners to operate freely, occasionally raiding and seizing smuggled agri products to show a semblance of law enforcement while ensuring that no big time smuggler is prosecuted for the non-bailable offense of economic sabotage,” the veteran legislator said.
Similar to the POGO activities, the seasoned lawmaker added that Chinese nationals are in connivance with their local Filipino counterparts to be able to operate freely in the country.
“Unti-unting nabunyag ang bulok na Sistema.”
“Unti-unting nabunyag ang bulok na sistema — kung saan ang mga dummy consignee at insiders, nagsasabwatan kasama ang ibang opisyal ng Customs at posible rin taga DA (Department of Agriculture),” the senator said.
These, he stressed, are not small-time activities since such operations can be punished with lifetime imprisonment and penalties up to three times the amount of smuggled goods under Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
“Lahat ng sangkot sa pag-smuggle ng pagkain, kaaway ng Pilipinong magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamimili.”
“Lahat ng sangkot sa pag-smuggle ng pagkain, kaaway ng Pilipinong magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamimili. Uulitin natin: ang bawat misdeclared shipment na lumalabas sa ating mga pantalan, pagnanakaw sa ating mga magsasaka, panloloko sa ating mga mamimili, at pagkutya sa ating mga batas,” Pangilinan added.
He also lamented the harm that these smuggled products may bring to consumers as they have not undergone physical inspection and chemical analysis to detect poison, viruses, and bacteria, thus, have not been approved as fit for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Pangilinan, who heads the agricultural committee, invited to the next hearing the representatives of Chinese export companies and several Chinese individuals who are allegedly behind the illegal import of agricultural products.
The Chinese export companies were identified as:
· Hangzhou Yina Import and Export Co
· Hangzhou Zaiqi Import and Export Co
· Hangzhou Chengxi Import and Export
· Hangzhou Dingyue Technology Co Ltd
· Shenzhen Deyangjia Industrial
· Guangzhou Yanyuxin Trade Co., Ltd
These Chinese individuals, on the other hand, were named as the Lessees of Vigour Global Logistics Corp.:
· Congxiao Cai
· Asan Cai
· Ricky Lim
· Kang Xie
· Chaoqun Shi
· Huiqing Li
· Mark Chua
· Kang Xie
· Jiwei Hong
· Meichan Cai
· Jayson Custodio
· Kang Xie
