Duterte: More than P50-M smuggled goods will be classified economic sabotage

President Rodrigo Duterte (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

President Rodrigo Duterte will file charges of economic sabotage against individuals smuggling at least P50-million worth of goods.

“I’m going to categorize its importation above 50 million as an act of economic sabotage,” President Duterte said in a speech during the awarding of outstanding farmers, fisherfolk, and coastal communities in Malacañang on Thursday.

“So if you are caught doing it, committing the crime or about to commit, or in fact committed the crime and you are apprehended there somewhere, you will be arrested and you will be detained to face trial,” he added.

If the goods smuggled are worth more than P50 million, the President said offense would be non-bailable.

“And if it’s more than 50 million, no bail,” he said.

President Duterte had earlier witnessed the condemnation of smuggled imported luxury cars at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and at Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. /jpv

READ: Duterte leads wrecking of P61M smuggled luxury cars