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Government

DA INTERCEPTS SMUGGLED ONION IN NCR MARKETS

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the DA-Wide Field Inspectorate (DA-WFI) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), continues to partner with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to curb the entry of smuggled agricultural commodities to the local markets.   A composite team from DA-WFI, BPI, […]

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Politics

DELA ROSA TO BOC: SHOW AGRI SMUGGLING RECORDS

Senator Bato Dela Rosa, the vice chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, has asked the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to be transparent and submit a complete record of the smuggling of agricultural products into the country. Dela Rosa also required BOC Acting Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz to include records of prosecution and conviction rates […]

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Politics

BINAY WANTS FISHERY SECTOR SMUGGLING PROBED

Senator Nancy Binay spoke in defense of Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco saying the inclusion of the mayor’s name in a Senate committee report is a result of failed intelligence. Binay said that Tiangco has been very active and vocal about smuggling and diversion of marine and aquatic products in Navotas City which are being imported […]

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Politics

HOUSE TO SUPPORT BUDGET, POLICY VS AGRI SMUGGLING

The House Ways and Means Committee said it will support any budget or policy request to bolster government efforts to fight the rampant smuggling of agricultural products in the country. Committee chairman and Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda said agricultural smuggling is a long-standing issue that will require the full efforts of the entire government. […]

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Politics

GO AFTER VEGETABLE SMUGGLERS – PANGILINAN

Vice presidential aspirant Senator Kiko Pangilinan said the government should be able to show that it can crack the whip on smugglers amid the unabated entry of imported vegetables that is killing the livelihood of Filipino farmers. “Hindi sapat na kunin ang mga nasabat. Hinahamon natin ang pamahalaan na magsampa ng kaso ng economic sabotage, […]

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Politics

SALCEDA TO NBI: GO AFTER AGRI PRODUCTS SMUGGLERS

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee said smugglers of agricultural products should be prosecuted and held accountable to protect the country’s farmers. During a House hearing, Albay Representative Joey Salceda instructed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to prosecute cases more strongly against large-scale agricultural […]

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Government

DAR : HEADS TO ROLL IN DA OVER FOOD SMUGGLING

Agriculture Secretary William Dar vowed to intensify efforts to weed out corruption within the Department of Agriculture (DA), saying that he will not hesitate to put heads on the chopping block for alleged involvement in the smuggling of agricultural and fishery products. “We strongly condemn smuggling, which deprives our farmers and fishers of their incomes […]

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Government

DAR BATS TWO-PRONGED APPROACH VS AGRI SMUGGLING

Agriculture Secretary William Dar puts forward a two-pronged approach to curb the illegal entry of agricultural products into the country after assuring the public of zero tolerance for any form of corruption. “First, let us continue to intensify our border protection and coordination efforts with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other agencies. Kapag may […]

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Politics

SOLON: PROBE GOV’T EXECS LINKED TO AGRI SMUGGLING

A party-list lawmaker called for an investigation and the filing of charges against “big-time” personalities in the government allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling. Magsasaka Party-list Representative Argel Cabatbat said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should look into the smuggling problem, particularly the involvement of officials from the Bureau of Plant Industry as if they are […]

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Politics

‘UNTOUCHABLES’ BEHIND FOOD SMUGGLING – PANGILINAN

Vice-presidential candidate Senator Kiko Pangilinan did not mince his words and said “untouchables” are behind the continuous large-scale food smuggling in the country, affecting the livelihood of local farmers, particularly those in Benguet. At the continuation of the investigation by the Senate Committee of the Whole on the issue, Pangilinan said that the government should […]