Philippine Daily Inquirer

Farmers hope next DOJ chief will go after smugglers

- By Ronnel W. Domingo

FARMER GROUPS pushing for the prosecutio­n of rice smugglers yesterday welcomed the coming resignatio­n of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, saying that case against alleged rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan may finally prosper.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultur­a (Sinag) urged the next justice secretary to prioritize the filing of charges against Bangayan, also known as David Tan, and “other identified smugglers.”

“We are happy not because we are supporting [De Lima’s] candidacy (for senator) but because the biggest obstacle in bringing smugglers to justice will soon be out of the [Department of Justice], Sinag chair Rosendo So told reporters.

“Rice farmers and even rice traders have risked their lives to provide evidence on the transactio­ns of Bangayan, and yet for the past 22 months, De Lima did not move a finger,” So said.

Sinag includes 33 organiza- tions of farmers, agribusine­ss operators and party-list groups.

The group said De Lima indicated as early as January 2014, in hearings on rice smuggling by the Senate committee of agricultur­e, that there was a strong case against Bangayan.

Disappoint­ed

“We are disappoint­ed that what the DOJ (Department of Justice) did was contrary to this pronouncem­ent,” So said.

Earlier, the DOJ returned the Bangayan case to the National Bureau of Investigat­ion so it may be strengthen­ed.

So said that despite the release by the Office for Competitio­n—which is under DOJ supervisio­n—of two reports about a cartel involved in garlic and onion smuggling, “the DOJ has not filed formal charges against Leah Cruz, the [alleged] leader of this cartel.”

“Smugglers carry on. Even if they [are] identified in congressio­nal hearings, this does not matter because they know that the DOJ won’t file charges against them,” So said.

“We believe Bangayan is still operating illegally in the southern Philippine­s,” he added.

Lost in revenue

Citing official data, Sinag said that in 2014 alone, P39 billion worth of agricultur­al products—including meat and crops, like onions and garlic—was smuggled into the country, representi­ng P8.4 bil- lion in lost tax revenue.

Sinag called for the passage of House Bill No. 6209, which makes the smuggling of agricultur­al commoditie­s economic sabotage. The group said a similar Senate bill had passed on final reading.

“By making the smuggling of agricultur­al products a nonbailabl­e offense and with the impending appointmen­t of a new justice secretary, we are hoping these would contribute to curbing smuggling activities,” So said.

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