Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan on Monday said the Senate investigation into agricultural smuggling is uncovering a vast criminal network involving Chinese syndicates and their Filipino collaborators.
He compared the operation to the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry, describing it as a “web of corruption” that stretches across government agencies and private entities.
“Just like in the POGO operations, there are Filipino accomplices involved. It is also highly likely that the imported frozen fish were originally caught in our own waters, in the West Philippine Sea, stolen from us and then sold back to our own markets,” Pangilinan lamented.
The senator warned that smuggled agricultural goods pose a severe threat to public health because they often bypass physical inspections, chemical tests, and safety checks for toxins, bacteria, or viruses.
He cited a recent case involving a P68-million shipment of frozen mackerel from China falsely declared as “chicken poppers” to enter the Subic port.
According to Pangilinan, the scheme involves dummy consignees, corrupt insiders, and officials from the Bureau of Customs and possibly the Department of Agriculture, who enable the entry of contraband goods.
“This is not a small-time operation. It is economic sabotage, punishable by life imprisonment and a fine three times the value of the goods under Republic Act 12022, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” he reminded.
Pangilinan said no one should be exempt from accountability, including Customs officials who turn a blind eye, investigators who bury complaint files, and transport operators who move illegal shipments.
He also warned that employees of the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, and the police could be complicit for allowing smugglers to operate with impunity.
“In this issue of smuggling involving organized syndicates, not a single smuggler has been imprisoned. That is why we will make sure to continue our investigation,” the lawmaker said.
