Rep. Wilbert Lee. Photo from congress.gov.ph
A lawmaker has pushed for stiffer penalties, such as perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office, against public officials and employees involved in agricultural smuggling.
AGRI Rep. Wilbert Lee has filed House Bill No. 5742, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10845, or the 2016 Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, by “holding public officials accountable with heavier punishment.”
“As public officials or employees, we must hold them accountable for their actions or inactions … The proposed measure seeks to impede and put a stop on the involvement of public officials or employees in large-scale agricultural smuggling,” Lee said in the bill’s explanatory note.
RA 10845 declared large-scale agricultural smuggling as “economic sabotage.”
HB 5742 seeks to amend the law by including other acts of market abuses like hoarding, profiteering and cartels as economic sabotage and impose stricter penalties against public officials and employees involved. —Julie M. Aurelio
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