Tiangco a protector of smugglers? Impossible, says fishing group

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila-based group of commercial fishing operators said it is “impossible” for former mayor and now Navotas representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco to be an agri-fishery smugglers’ protector.

The Inter-Island Deepsea Fishing Association (IDSFA) on Friday issued a statement to laud the Senate panel that recently submitted Committee Report No. 649, flagging 31 “pending” smuggling cases with over P848 million worth of contraband goods involved.

READ: Senate panel flags 31 ‘pending’ smuggling cases

It, however, stood by Tiangco who was included in the list of personalities allegedly linked to the illegal practice.

“It is impossible that he is a protector of smugglers,” IDSFA vice president Paul Santos stressed. “With due respect to the Committee and with no intention to undermine its report, we have witnessed [former] mayor Tiangco and his team’s valiant effort in the fight against smuggling. Hence, we make this statement in appreciation and support of [his] actions.”

READ: Palace to Senate: Sue gov’t execs in agri smuggling

IDSFA backed its claim with notable measures done by the Navotas local government unit (LGU) in the past few years to crack down on the said illegal practice.

Santos said it started with the “apprehension by the [National Bureau of Investigation] of the smuggled galunggong in December 2018 in Navotas City.”

He recalled that a “turning point” for their sector was when the Navotas LGU filed cases against the galunggong smugglers for violations of both Fisheries Code and Anti-Agricultural Smuggling.

“This sent a strong signal to the smugglers about the LGU’s serious resolve in not just relentlessly apprehending violators, but also in prosecuting them. Because of these actions by the Navotas LGU, smugglers moved the bulk of their illicit activities elsewhere,” Santos further explained.

In a radio interview last June 29, Tiangco also denied his alleged ties with agri-fishery smuggling.

‘A long way to go’ on smugglers

Although the IDSFA praised the Senate panel for toppling over some smugglers that “gained foothold and influence in the highest of government agencies tasked with the mandate to prevent such illegal activities,” it maintained that there is still a long way to go to hold a few others liable.

Santos pointed out: “Smugglers benefit if government agencies conduct apprehensions, but fumbles the investigation that ultimately weakens their case. Smugglers likewise benefit if the enforcing agency will just file an administrative case instead of an apparent criminal complaint.”

“These flaws in law enforcement need to be avoided.  Several policies of the Department of Agriculture also need a second look, especially those created in the last years that tend to encourage smuggling activities,” he added

je