DU30’S CORRUPTS: MANILA- ‘Customs Chief Heads List Of Agri Smugglers’

Senate President Vicente Sotto III bared on Monday, June 27, the committee report on the Senate investigation into large-scale agricultural smuggling, which listed 22 individuals, including the chief of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), either as suspected smugglers or their protectors.

Sotto revealed the 63-page committee report following his recent meeting with president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Citing intelligence information, the report named Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, Deputy Commissioner for intelligence Raniel Ramiro, Deputy Commissioner Vener Baquiran; BOC directors Jeoffrey Tacio and Yasser Abbas as alleged protectors of smugglers.

The report also named Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Plant Industry director George Culaste; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Eduardo Gongona and Laarni Roxas of the DA-BPI’s plant quarantine services division.

It also listed a certain Toby Tiangco; a certain Mayor Jun Diamante, who allegedly operates in the Ports of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Subic; a certain Gerry Teves; David Tan; Manuel Tan; Jude Logarta; Leah Cruz alias Luz Cruz or the alleged “Onion Queen;” Andy Chua; George Tan; David Bangayan; Paul Teves; Tommy Go and Wilson Chua.

Sotto said Marcos should undertake a massive revamp of the DA that he will head as many of its officials are protectors of notorious smugglers of vegetables, fruits, chicken, fish, pork and other agricultural products.

He described Marcos’ move to head the DA as a “masterstroke” even as he recalled suggesting to him that cleaning up the DA and the BOC should be the priority when they had a meeting days after Marcos won the elections with an overwhelming mandate.

“I’m sure he (Marcos Jr.) is not going to handle that (DA portfolio) for six years, maybe he’s thinking of straightening up the agency first,” Sotto told reporters in Filipino on Sunday, June 26.

“I informed him of the results of our investigation, and I said ‘don’t leave anything at the top, if possible from the secretary down to the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries,’” he said, referring to the prosecution of officials allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling.

The outgoing head of the DA, Secretary William Dar, has been widely criticized for his policy of massive importation and lowering of tariffs on rice, pork and other agricultural products, which has pushed farmers and fishermen deeper into poverty.

During the meeting, Sotto furnished the incoming leader a copy of the report of the Senate committee of the whole, which he chaired.

Large-scale agricultural smuggling is considered economic sabotage under Republic Act No. 10845.

Ironic

Navotas City Mayor Tobias Tiangco felt alluded to and said it was ironic to be included in the list as he had formally written a letter to Dar on Sept. 25, 2020, asking him to immediately act on fish smuggling that was abetted by BFAR officials. Tiangco said he never got a response from Dar.

He said the Navotas City government was the one that filed two cases in court of violation of RA 10845 against suspected smugglers and is preparing to file a third one.

“If you’re fighting well-entrenched syndicates, this (being in the list) is what will happen. But if they think this will stop me, they’re wrong,” Tiangco said in a telephone interview, adding smuggling syndicates’ networks run across several government agencies.

On the other hand, Dar said DA officials who were among the alleged agri-smuggling protectors unveiled by Sotto should be given a chance to defend themselves.

“Let the three officials named in the report be given a chance to face their accusers and defend themselves in the proper forum,” Dar said in a statement on Monday.

Last week, Dar reiterated the agency’s willingness to file charges against DA officials proven to be involved in the smuggling of agricultural products.

He said the agency is taking every opportunity it can to weed out corruption, particularly those involved in agricultural smuggling, within the department.

He added that internal investigations are still ongoing.

“We’re still proving the various allegations because you have to give due process to both sides,” Dar said.

He stressed that when enough evidence is found, these cases will be forwarded to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission or the Office of the Ombudsman.

“We already have a number of cases there,” Dar said.

The outgoing agriculture secretary welcomed the Senate committee of the whole move to forward its report on large-scale agricultural smuggling to president-elect Marcos.

“We welcome it if there is a list. And if there is evidence, it should be brought to court,” Dar said in Filipino.

Customs’ lawyer Abbas, in a statement, denied his involvement in the smuggling of agricultural products.

“I categorically deny that I am one of those officials who aid or abet smugglers of agricultural products in any shape or form.

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“My functions as the director of the Import and Assessment Service is not involved in any manner in the processing, clearance or release of agricultural products. The functions of my office do not allow me to influence or facilitate the processing of agricultural products to allow smuggling,” he said.

“Furthermore, I was not invited in any hearing in the Senate regarding the smuggling of agricultural products nor was I even given a chance to explain any allegations against me, if any.” – With Catherine Talavera