Marcos: Syndicates, smugglers are no match for our united strength

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday said that syndicates and smugglers are no match for the collective unity of Filipinos.

Marcos said this as he led a series of rice distribution activities in Capiz and Aklan, giving away around 3,000 more sacks of confiscated rice to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.

“Mga kababayan, gaano man kalaki ang kanilang sindikato—tulad ng natimbog natin na smuggler sa pier ng Zamboanga noong buwan ng Agosto—wala pong [binatbat] iyan sa nagkakaisa nating lakas,” said Marcos in speech in Roxas City.

(My fellow countrymen, no matter how large the syndicate is — like the smuggler we caught in the Zamboanga pier in August — they are no match for our united strength.)

Marcos was referring to the more than 42,000 sacks of rice confiscated by the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga, which was given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to distribute to 4Ps beneficiaries.

READ: Customs forfeits P42 M smuggled rice in Zamboanga

The President also said that Congress is working on making punishment for smugglers harsher.

“Kaya magsilbi itong babala sa mga smuggler, sa mga hoarder, at sindikato diyan. Nasa Bagong Pilipinas na tayo! Hindi na lulusot ang inyong mga lumang estilo. Hindi na puwede ang inyong mga kalokohan ngayon!” proclaimed the President.

(This should serve as a warning to smugglers, hoarders, and syndicates. This is the New Philippines! Your old style will not succeed. These wrongdoings will not persist.)

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