Agriculture Secretary William Dar witnessed the arrival of 2,000 hogs courtesy of Biotech Farms last February in Tondo, Manila to augment the supply of pork in the National Capital Region. The shipment came from South Cotabato.
MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Monday denied any involvement in the alleged “tongpats” or kickbacks scheme in the importation of pork in the country.
“As regards to the alleged ‘tongpats’ of about P5 to P7 per kilo of imported pork, the present DA (Department of Agriculture) leadership categorically denies any involvement if such scheme indeed exists,” Dar told senators during the Committee of the Whole investigation into alleged pork importation anomalies.
“On my personal and official capacity as sec of the DA, [I am] one with all of you, with President Rodrigo Duterte in the strict observance of good governance and no corruption in government and will never allow any corrupt practice,” he added.
The investigation of the Senate was triggered by the revelation of Senator Panfilo Lacson in March that there is an alleged syndicate within the DA getting kickbacks from P5 to P7 in “tongpats” for every kilogram of imported pork.
Lacson claimed that kickbacks from the racket could amount to P6 billion per year if President Rodrigo Duterte approves the DA’s proposal to lower tariffs on pork and increase import allocation on such products.
Last week, the President did approve the DA’s recommendations, which senators have opposed.
Lacson, at the beginning of the hearing, appealed that the order be recalled due to the negative effects it would have on the local hog industry as well as the government’s collection of tariff revenues.
Dar, however, defended the DA’s recommendations, saying that lowering tariff rates on pork imports “can reduce prices of pork, reduce inflation and provide reasonable profit margin.”
“As far as the MAV allocation is concerned, strict implementing regulations and guidelines are in place to ensure a transparent and non-discretionary systematic distribution procedure on the MAV allocation,” Dar assured senators.