Sen. Imee Marcos believes the soaring retail price of onions in the country is a result of poor planning by the Department of Agriculture (DA). During the hybrid hearing of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform Monday, January 16, 2023. (Joseph Vidal / Senate PRIB).
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Monday said the House of Representatives hearing on agricultural smuggling should no longer be postponed.
Marcos, chair of the Senate committee on economic affairs, made the reaction after the House committee ways and means’ cancellation of the inquiry on the smuggling of agricultural products.
The inquiry was led by Sultan Kudarat 2nd District Rep. Horacio Suansing Jr. and was supposed to push through on Monday.
Marcos said in a statement: “I am distraught hearing these smuggling allegations, knowing only too well the hardship our farmers endure. For them, we must push these investigations, without fear or favor, until the truth, the whole truth, is out. No more postponements!
“So that finally, after years of evasion [and] bribery, smugglers and other criminals guilty of large-scale agricultural sabotage shall be clapped in jail for life.”
Suansing had named various individuals and consignees allegedly involved in smuggling and requested that a committee subpoena them for an investigation.