MANILA—Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan expressed frustration over the continued absence of convictions and imprisonment of individuals involved in large-scale agricultural smuggling, despite mounting evidence and repeated anti-smuggling operations.

During the Second Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, jointly held with the Committees on Ways and Means and Finance, Pangilinan underscored the adverse impact of smuggling on Filipino farmers and local food producers.

“Maawa naman kayo sa mga magsasaka, umaasa sa ating lahat na gawin yung trabaho natin. At syempre yung ating mamimili (rin),” he said.

The senator pointed to the three recent anti-smuggling operations in Subic, Paco, and Talisay City, Cebu, stressing that these should serve as a “litmus test” for the implementation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which classifies smuggling of agricultural products worth more than P10 million as non-bailable.

“Uulit-ulitin ko dahil andiyan na yung, nakumpiska na, andiyan na yung produkto, andiyan na yung halaga, andito na yung mga pangalan ng mga brokers, ng mga consignees, yung mga importer, yung mga may-ari ng warehouse, yung mga may-ari ng cold storage,” Pangilinan said. “You have all the information necessary to file cases of anti-economic sabotage. Bakit walang nangyayari o hindi pa nangyayari?”

He warned that many of those behind the smuggling networks might have already fled the country, knowing the severity of the offense.

“Mageeskapo na lahat yan so wala nang saysay yung nagpapasahan tayo ng dokumento kung hindi mabilis. I hope you understand. Ang realidad non bailable yan eh kung hindi tayo kumilos, alam nila under investigation sila, ano na mangyayari sa atin?,” he asked.

Pangilinan assured the Bureau of Customs, the Department of Justice, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Department of Agriculture, and other concerned agencies that the Senate is ready to extend support to strengthen their enforcement capacity.

“We want you to succeed. You have our full backing if you want to pursue your mandate under the anti-agriculture smuggling law,” he said.