MANILA - A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday called for an investigation and the filing of charges against "big-time" personalities in the government allegedly involved in agricultural smuggling. Magsasaka Party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should look into the smuggling problem, particularly the involvement of officials from the Bureau of Plant Industry, as if they are being protected. "We will continue collecting evidence and witnesses that will expose the corruption in the Bureau of Plant Industry that we believe is the root cause of smuggling in the country," Cabatbat said. Cabatbat has already filed a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry on the implementation status of border inspection and food safety regulations, in the state of border inspection facilities in the country. The resolution also seeks to look at the government's capacity to curb the smuggling of imported vegetables and other agricultural commoditi
SMUGGLING CONDEMNED. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar, shown in the file photo, condemns the smuggling of agricultural products and their smugglers in the country in a statement on Monday (March 28, 2022). This is after another DA official, Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste Jr., confirmed that there are "high-profile" personalities involved in the proliferation of smuggled agricultural products in the country. (File photo courtesy of the DA) MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has vowed to file charges against big-time personalities in the government, allegedly involved in the proliferation of smuggled agricultural products in the country. DA Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Noel Reyes urged the public to report anyone allegedly involved in the unscrupulous act. "Kung may kilala po kayo, sabihin lang po ninyo ang pangalan, para magawan natin ng kaukulang administrative charges, mahirap 'yung pahapyaw lang (If you know anyone, name i
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