MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urged government agencies to intensify their campaign against the masterminds of large-scale agricultural smuggling, saying small individuals should not be made scapegoats.

During the Senate’s third hearing on agricultural smuggling, Pangilinan said that while the law is strong, its enforcement remains weak.

“Maangas ang batas, dapat maangas rin ang gobyerno magproteka sa ating mga mamimili, at sa ating mga magsasaka, at sa ating mga mangingisda,” he said.

Pangilinan cited the case of 23-year-old Food Panda rider Dexter Juala, who was listed by the Bureau of Customs as the owner of EPCB Consumer Goods Trading—the company that attempted to smuggle 14 containers of carrots, onions, and frozen fish through the Port of Subic.

“Obvious na hindi big fish si Mr. Juala, scapegoat o dummy siya ng mga sindikatong kayang bumuo ng pekeng kumpanya,” he said, recalling Senator JV Ejercito’s statement from a previous hearing.

He also mentioned broker Lujin Tenero of 1024 Consumer Goods Trading, who signed import entry documents for P68 million worth of smuggled frozen mackerel, but declared only P40 million worth of “chicken poppers.” Tenero claimed he was instructed by a “Mr. Carlos” from the Bureau of Customs, but could not provide his full name.

“Paanong hindi makikilala ang taong kausap sa milyun-milyong pisong transaksyon?… Hindi kapani-paniwala,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan reminded agencies that Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, carries life imprisonment and fines worth five times the value of smuggled goods. He said that despite a P500 million allocation for its enforcement, no major smuggler has been jailed since 2016.

“Wala pang nakukulong na malaking smuggler kahit non-bailable na nun ang economic sabotage of agriculture products sa halagang 10 million pesos,” he said. “Sana bago magtapos ang taon (may makulong).”

He also stressed that government officials involved in or benefiting from smuggling face life imprisonment, perpetual disqualification from public service, and forfeiture of assets.

“Ang mga taong gobyerno, hindi ordinaryong mamamayan. Sila ang mga taong binabayaran natin para bantayan ang kapakanan ng taumbayan,” Pangilinan said. “Ang kanilang kasalanan ay higit pa sa smuggling — ito ay pagtalikod sa sinumpaang tungkulin.”

He said justice should not be measured by the severity of punishment but by its swift and certain enforcement.

“Hindi sa bigat ng parusa nasusukat ang hustisya, kundi sa bilis at katiyakan ng pagpataw nito. Sapagkat ang parusang mabagal ay para na ring walang parusa,” he said.

Pangilinan said the Senate will continue to exercise its oversight function to monitor how laws are being implemented and ensure accountability among officials.