MANILA – Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is seeking an investigation into nearly PHP700 million worth of suspected smuggled rice intercepted at the ports of Davao and Limay, Bataan, questioning the apparent failure to prosecute major smugglers despite a law imposing stiffer penalties for agricultural economic sabotage.
“Gusto natin malaman ang puno’t dulo nito (We want to get to the bottom of this),” Pangilinan said in a statement Tuesday, adding that the investigation would most likely begin in the first week of November.
The suspected smuggled rice shipments involved two vessels intercepted last month.
The MV Tay Son 2, carrying 12,500 metric tons of rice, attempted to leave the Port of Davao without completing the required Customs processing, prompting the Philippine Navy to intercept and apprehend the vessel at sea.
Meanwhile, the MV Lucky Star was apprehended at the Port of Limay after its import permit was found to be inconsistent with the actual contents of its shipment. The vessel was carrying nearly 7,500 metric tons of rice.
The two vessels are believed to have carried a combined 20,000 metric tons of Vietnamese rice, with an estimated value of PHP700 million based on the prevailing world market price of USD420 per metric ton.
Pangilinan said he has coordinated with the Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture, National Bureau of Investigation and Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council regarding the shipments.
“Hindi dapat pinapasok ang imported na bigas sa panahon ng anihan. Kasi tuwing mangyayari ‘yan bumabagsak ang presyo ng palay (Imported rice should not be allowed into the country during the harvest season because whenever that happens, palay prices fall),” he said.
He lamented that no major smugglers have been jailed despite Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which classifies agricultural economic sabotage involving at least PHP10 million worth of agricultural products as a non-bailable offense.
