SENATOR Cynthia Villar on Tuesday scored the government for supposedly turning a blind eye on the perennial problem of rice smuggling in the country.
Citing figures from the United Nations, Villar said around 700,000 metric tons of rice had been smuggled in the country in 2015.
Asked about statements from government representatives that rice smuggling was already “controlled,” Villar said it was expected from the government, adding that there was no reason for UN to cover-up the truth.
“Syempre sasabihin nila yun, sila ang government. I think UN is hindi biased, third party. Why will UN distort their figures, tell me? What’s the reason? Kung walang smuggling, ano naman ang masama sa kanila kung walang smuggling? I cannot comprehend the reason why will UN distort the figure,” Villar said in a press conference.
“Kasi kaya gusto ko ring nilalabas yung UN, para malaman nila ang katotohanan. Kasi parang ayaw nilang i-accept ang fact. Sasabihin ng mga tao sa labas na rampant ang smuggling, sasabihin ng gobyerno, hindi. Malalaman natin kung ano ang totoo so we cited the UN figure. Ngayon kung ayaw nilang tanggapin, basta tayo ilalabas lang natin kung ano ang nakita natin. Transparent lang tayo,” she added.
Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said the reason why the recurring problem of rice smuggling cannot be curbed was because of high-profile and wealthy smugglers who use their influence.
“Talagang mayayaman ang smuggler and they can manipulate people,” she said.
The senator also lamented how certain government agencies failed to do their mandate to reduce the high incidence of rice smuggling in recent years.
“We expected the DOJ (Department of Justice) to file cases, they did not file. Then we expected NFA (National Food Authority) to do G2G (government-to-government scheme) kasi iyon ang recommendation ng BOC (Bureau of Customs) to simplify their work kasi nahihirapan sila. Hindi rin nila sinunod. Iyon ang nakikita ko doon,” Villar said.