Seized mackerel imports become Christmas giveaways for Tondo folk

This photo shows the turnover of the confiscated P178.5 million worth of frozen mackerel to the Department of Agriculture at the Manila International Container Port on Saturday, December 14, 2024, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2nd from left), DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel (2nd from right), Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla (left) and Bureau of Customs chief Bienvenido Rubio (right). —Photo from the Bureau of Customs

MANILA, Philippines — Something’s fishy about this latest gift-giving activity involving President Marcos himself.

Visiting an urban poor area in Manila on Saturday, the President led the distribution of Christmas food giveaways that included not just the usual “noche buena” fare but also tons of frozen mackerel.

The fish was from a massive import shipment intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in a recent antismuggling operation.

The Palace said a total of 28,000 kilograms of mackerel were to be shared among 21,000 families at the Baseco Compound, Tondo, some of whom were gathered for the President’s program.

The 28,000 kilos were part of the mackerel imports worth P178.5 million that arrived in 21 cargo containers at Manila International Container Port (MICP). Totaling 588,000 kilos, they were intercepted in October and seized in favor of the government.

First case under new law

In his brief remarks at Baseco, where he went after seeing the shipment at the MICP, the President said it was used as evidence in the first case to be filed under Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which he signed into law on Sept. 26.

He ordered the BOC, Department of Agriculture (DA) and other government agencies to work together and intensify the crackdown on agricultural smuggling, which the law now classifies as economic sabotage.

Smugglers who disrupt the supply chain “destroy the Philippine market” and cause revenue losses for the government, Marcos said, explaining the rationale behind the law.

“I hope this is the first of many operations because this is very, very important. We have to control and supervise our food supply. If these crimes continue, we will be unable to do that. That’s why we enacted the law.”

Data from the BOC showed that the agency had seized P5.87 billion worth of smuggled agricultural products from July 2022 to November 2024.

Since 2018, the BOC has filed 250 cases involving smuggled agricultural products with a total worth P8.59 billion, and has so far won four convictions.

From China

In a statement, Malacañang said the 21 containers loaded with 58,800 cartons of frozen mackerel arrived at the MICP from China on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29.

A check by the BOC showed that the shipment lacked sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances, prompting its confiscation.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also said the importer had no applications for mackerel importation during the period. It later declared the frozen mackerel fit for human consumption.

A complaint for violating Republic Act No. 12011, Republic Act No. 10611, or the Food Safety Act, and Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, was recommended against the shipment’s consignee and broker, whom the Palace statement did not name.

Good for 150,000 families

On Saturday, the DA formally donated the shipment to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for its food assistance program for calamity victims, indigents, jail inmates and care center wards.

The Palace said 588,000 kilos, the total volume of the seized mackerel shipment, could benefit around 150,000 families. The Baseco families, mainly from Barangay 649, were given two kilos each.

Addressing them, the President said: “Just think about it, you each have two kilos and it’s like you went to the market to shop for free today! I know our ‘pamasko’ (Christmas present) is a bit different. Instead of ‘jamon’ and ‘lechon,’ we brought you fish! So that it won’t go to waste.”