DA employees under probe for possible smuggling ‘conspiracy’

This file photo shows the Department of Agriculture Secretary, William Dar. On Tuesday, November 19, 2019, Dar says DA is investigating its own employees over possible “conspiracy” in the smuggling of agricultural products in the Philippines. INQUIRER FILE/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary William Dar admitted Tuesday that his agency is still facing a “huge” problem in smuggling that they are now investigating his own men for their possible involvement in the entry of illegally imported agricultural products in the country.

“Maraming kuntsabahan ‘yan. Sa Bureau of Animal Industry, nagkukuntsabahan ‘yan so nakakalusot. So ‘yun ang pinakanagiging problema natin,” Dar said in a press briefing.

(There’s a conspiracy there. In the Bureau of Animal Industry, they are conspiring so smuggled items are able to enter. That’s really our problem.)

But Dar neither identified the involved DA employees nor divulged further details about their investigation.

However, according to him, among the agricultural items seized were banned pork and pork products from China that were declared as tomato paste and vermicelli.

The Agriculture chief also admitted that rice is being imported in the Philippines even if traders were not able to secure an import clearance, which is required under the Rice Tariffication Act.

“Marami pong wala pang import clearance. Nire-recycle po ‘yung mga import clearances nung mga nakaraan,” he said.

(A lot of imported items have no import clearance. They are recycling the import clearances that have already been used.)

Dar assured that DA will continue to work with the Bureau of Customs to prevent the illegal entry of agricultural products into the country.

Edited by KGA