Senator Chiz Escudero has challenged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to immediately file charges against rice smugglers and hoarders, who have been blamed for the artificial shortage of staple food and price spikes in recent months.
Escudero also questioned why the BOC has not disclosed the names of traders and operators whose warehouses have been raided by government authorities. He stressed the need to file charges against these individuals to serve as a warning to other smugglers and hoarders and to prove that the Marcos administration was serious about its campaign against rice cartels.
The Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 considers large-scale smuggling of agricultural products as economic sabotage.
In addition to calling for the immediate filing of charges, Escudero also urged the government to update the public on the development of cases against hoarders and to provide information on how confiscated rice will be disposed of.
Meanwhile, a recent BOC-led raid yielded ₱40-million worth of rice in two warehouses in Las Piñas and Bacoor. The warehouses were found storing rice products from Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Authorities have granted the owner of the warehouses 15 days to submit the necessary documentation to validate the legality of the importation and payment of correct duties and taxes.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 18, 2023
