Antismuggling law fate hazy in Malacañang

DAGUPAN CITY—A group of agriculture industry players said it has yet to hear from Malacañang about the fate of a proposed law that would make the smuggling of farm produce an act of economic sabotage.

“We are hopeful that President Aquino would approve [the proposed act declaring agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage] because it would mean he cares for the farmers and the fishermen of the country,” said Rosendo So, president of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag).

The measure, passed by both chambers of Congress, was transmitted to Malacañang on April 7.

As of May 22, Sinag has not received word as to whether the President had approved the measure, allowed it to lapse into law or vetoed it, So said.

“If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it will lapse into law after 30 days of receipt,” according to the Official Gazette.

The proposed law states that the smuggling of sugar, corn, pork, poultry, fish, garlic, carrots and other vegetables amounting to a minimum of P1 million would qualify as economic sabotage.

Smugglers of rice amounting to P10 million also face stiff penalties under the measure, which both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed in March.

The proposed law seeks to penalize illegal importers of agricultural products with imprisonment of not less than 17 years but not more than 20 years.

It also seeks to penalize violators with a fine equivalent to twice the fair market value of the smuggled products and their corresponding amount of taxes, duties and other charges.

It also allows the government to confiscate smuggled products and to cancel and revoke the business license, import permits and other pertinent documents for importation of a company caught illegally bringing in farm commodities.

Agricultural goods amounting to close to P200 billion have been smuggled into the country since 2010, when President Aquino assumed office, Sinag said.

The bill was steered into approval at the House by Rep. Conrado Estrella III of the Abono party-list group. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon