MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has declined the chairmanship of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, saying he wants to focus on leading agricultural reforms and continuing his 15-year advocacy for food security and rural development.

In an interview with DZRH on Thursday, October 9, Pangilinan, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, stressed the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by the agriculture sector.

“Matindi rin kasi ang problema ng agrikultura sa ngayon — sektor ng magasasaka at mangingisda. Mabigat din ang problema (sa) kakulangan ng pagkain at kakulangan ng suporta sa ating agri at fisheries sectors,” he said when asked why he declined the offer to head the committee tasked with investigating government irregularities.

Pangilinan said his decision was driven by the need to sustain the progress made in improving the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk.

The senator cited recent Senate hearings where he raised concerns about the persistent gaps in the government’s campaign against agricultural smuggling. He noted that more than half of the smuggling cases from 2021 to 2025 were dismissed due to incomplete documentation from the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

He lamented that despite billions of pesos worth of agricultural products seized each year, no major smuggler has been charged with a non-bailable offense under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law.

“Sampung taon na itong Anti-Economic Sabotage Law ng agriculture products na non-bailable. Pero hanggang ngayon, sa awa ng Diyos, wala pang nakukulong na smuggler,” Pangilinan said.

“Lalabanan natin ito dahil ito ang dahilan bakit pabagsak ng pabagsak ang ating outputs at produkto sa agrikultura, at tumataas ang presyo ng pagkain dahil kasama diyan ‘yung smuggling na pinapatay ang lokal na produksyon natin,” he added.

Pangilinan also said corruption and weak governance continue to affect the agricultural sector, burdening farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers.

“Sino ang mga importer ng private sector na involved? Sino ang Usec. Bernardo sa smuggling? Sino ang Brice Hernandez at Engineer Alcantara ng smuggling? Sino ang mga Discaya ng smuggling?” he asked.

“‘Yan ang mga hinahanap natin dahil itong maliliit na lamang ulit ang lumalabas at napatunayan na may ebidensiya habang ‘yung mga big fish ay wala pa, pero hahabulin natin sila,” he vowed.

Pangilinan was among the candidates considered to lead the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee after Senator Panfilo Lacson resigned as chair. Senator Erwin Tulfo now serves as acting chairman of the committee.