DA files charges vs 5 consignees of smuggled goods

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is going after the people allegedly behind the proliferation of smuggled goods that entered the Philippines, a DA official said.

“Our running total is we have already seized P500 million worth of agricultural products,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary James Layug told a press briefing.

Layug said they have filed cases against five consignees of smuggled goods for violating Republic Act No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, but did not disclose their names or the entities involved.

Under the law, large-scale agricultural smuggling refers to shipments worth at least P1 million for the majority of farm products or a minimum of P10 million for rice.

The DA is coordinating with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to exhaust all means to put an end to agricultural smuggling.

Layug said the DA was attempting to solidify the case against the identified consignees and brokers.

“You’ll be surprised that it goes beyond the import permit. It should be a holistic approach. We need the legal assistance of the Department of Justice because we will be needing the support coming from the exporting countries, those documents,” he said.

Layug did not reveal if any government official or employee was involved in this prohibited act.

“We have a meeting today to address the legal aspect to curb the illicit activity of those identified. We are saying identified but we still have to work within the law, with all legal means that we have right now, we will use it in order to go after them,” he added. INQ