PBBM, nakikita ang pagtaas ng agri smuggling bilang national security threat – DA

NAKIKITA ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang kamakailan lamang na pagtaas sa agricultural commodity smuggling bilang isang national security threat.

Ito ang dahilan ani Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. kung bakti agad na inatasan ni Pangulong Marcos ang mga law enforcement at intelligence agency na tulungan ang Department of Agriculture (DA) sa pagtugon sa illicit trade, na labis na nakaaapekto sa food security ng bansa.

“The President has directed the DA to throw the book at the consignees and all those involved in smuggling these agricultural products. By the end of the year, we hope to see many of those responsible handcuffed, facing charges,” ang sinabi ni Tiu Laurel.

Aniya, labis na nag-aalala ang Pangulo ukol sa pinsala na dulot ng market-disruptive practices sa lokal na magsasaka, mangingisda at lehitimong negosyo.

“This not only harms the economy but fosters corruption at multiple levels,” ang sinabi ni Tiu Laurel.

Sa kabilang dako, nakapulong na ni Tiu Laurel ang bagong itinalaga na si Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre, at mga kinatawan mula sa Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) ”to devise strategies for targeting smuggling syndicates.”

Tiniyak ng Kalihim na mahaharap sa legal consequences ang mga customs brokers bilang bahagi ng pagsisikap na ipatupad ang Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law, the Food Safety Act, at Customs Code.

“Imported goods, primarily from the Port of Xiamen, are under heightened scrutiny as most of the smuggled goods are shipped out of the Chinese port,” ayon kay Tiu Laurel.  (Daris Jose)