MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan lamented that nearly a decade since agricultural smuggling was declared a non-bailable crime, not a single big-time smuggler has been jailed.

In a privilege speech at the Senate, Pangilinan warned that farmers and fisherfolk continue to suffer from high production costs and unfair competition while smugglers remain free.

“Sa usapin ng smuggling ng produktong agrikultura — ito ang pumapatay sa ating mga lokal na producers ng bigas, baboy, manok, gulay at iba pa,” Pangilinan said. He noted that under the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, smuggling worth ₱1 million in vegetables and fish and ₱10 million in rice is considered a non-bailable offense.

“Sa awa ng Diyos, hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring nakukulong na smuggler o importer,” he stressed.

The senator said that despite three cases filed under the law in 2024, no arrest warrants have been issued. He cited government reports of seizures, including ₱100 million worth of frozen meat in Cavite, ₱100 million worth of onions and garlic in Bulacan, ₱115 million worth of onions in Subic, and ₱1.9 billion worth of imported rice.

“Sa halip na bumabaha ng korapsyon, dapat bumabaha ng solusyon,” Pangilinan said.

While criticizing corruption and government inaction, Pangilinan expressed hope in the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. and Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, both of whom vowed to pursue smugglers and abusive importers.

He also recalled his role as Presidential Assistant for Food Security during the Aquino administration, when operations confiscated tons of hoarded rice and prevented billions of pesos in overpriced imports.

Pangilinan warned that corruption inside key agencies worsens the plight of agriculture, already battered by natural disasters. “Habang tadtad tayo ng natural disasters sa hanay ng agrikultura, tadtad din tayo ng man-made disasters,” he said, citing anomalies such as rigged fertilizer bids, ghost deliveries, fake farmer-beneficiaries, and collusion with traders.

“Kung hindi sa usapin ng makupad na kilos ng gobyerno o kakulangan ng tauhan at pondo, man-made disaster din ang pangungurakot sa gobyerno at sa lantarang smuggling ng produktong agrikultura,” Pangilinan said.