Gordon: ‘Vicious cycle’ of smuggling in PH harms domestic trade

Senator Richard Gordon disclosed at a Senate hearing on Monday the “vicious cycle” of smuggling in the country.

“Ito po ang tinatawag na talagang karumal-dumal na siglo, or cycle na smuggling,” Gordon said as he resumed the Senate blue ribbon committee’s inquiry into the P6.4 billion worth of smuggled shabu from China.

The cycle of smuggling, he said, starts with undervaluation, misdeclaration, and “fake consignees” who are being used to help smuggle goods into the country.

“Domestic manufacturing can’t compete with cheap smuggled goods,” said Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee. “Sa madaling sabi, talo ang domestic kaya magtataka kayo ni pako hindi na natin ma-produce sa ating bansa.”

Gordon then presented during the hearing some fake goods, including an alleged brand of crayons that he said are cheap but contains the deadly chemical lead.

“I hope we’re learning lessons here. This is the job of government. If government fails do its job, we lose jobs, we get bad products, we pay more for everything. Ang yumayaman lang ay yung mga smuggler,” he said.

Before this, Gordon lamented the Bureau of Custom’s failure to exceed target revenues set by the Department of Finance every year.

“Sa ilang taon, halos mag iisang dekada na, wala pang nakapasa sa target ng Finance. Kung kayo bayan nanonood, at nakinig, palpak!” Gordon exclaimed.      /kga