MANILA — Sen. Kiko Pangilinan highlighted massive losses from agricultural smuggling during the second hearing on agri smuggling, questioning why many major offenders remain unpunished despite billions of pesos worth of smuggled goods being seized.

In his opening statement at the Senate Session Hall, Pangilinan likened smuggling to a rigged basketball game, where corrupt officials and syndicates act as referees, while local farmers, fisherfolk, and legitimate importers are at a disadvantage.

“Ang smuggling ay parang ‘budol’ sa laro ng basketball… Ang mga tapat na manlalaro — ang ating mga local food manufacturers, ang ating mga disente at maayos na importer, ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda — ay natatalo kapag di patas ang laro,” he said.

Pangilinan cited multiple cases of large-scale smuggling from 2018 to 2025, including the seizure of P5.8 billion worth of smuggled agricultural products between July 2022 and November 2024, and the interception of shipments such as 22,000 sacks of rice worth P38.9 million in Paco, Manila, and 57 containers of frozen mackerel, onions, and carrots valued at P71.9 million in Subic.

He also referenced raids on unregistered cold storage facilities, including one in Cavite where P100 million worth of frozen meat and other agricultural products were confiscated, much of it unsafe for consumption.

“Bilyon-bilyon din ang ninakaw sa bayan dahil sa smuggling… Bakit walang mga smuggler o miyembro ng sindikato ng smuggling ang nakakulong?” Pangilinan said, stressing that despite anti-smuggling laws such as Republic Act 10845 and the 2024 Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, convictions remain rare.

He noted that while agencies like the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Customs have improved prosecution rates and confiscated billions in illegal imports, major syndicates and violators continue to evade accountability.

“Trilyong halaga na ang nakumpiska natin na smuggled goods, walang mga lisensya, wala pa tayong nakukulong. Mahiya naman tayong lahat,” Pangilinan said.