In a significant crackdown on smuggling, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Philippines announced the seizure of agricultural products valued at over PHP1 billion this year. Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla shared this information during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, highlighting that the total value of all smuggled goods captured by the BOC’s Intelligence Group exceeds PHP80 billion.
Over the weekend, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally oversaw the distribution of thousands of kilograms of mackerel, which were part of a smuggled shipment from China valued at PHP178.5 million, at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).
Looking forward, Maronilla expressed optimism about the future, citing the implementation of Republic Act 12022, also known as the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. This new legislation is expected to enhance the efforts of the BOC and other agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA) by imposing harsher penalties for price manipulation through hoarding and profiteering.
Maronilla emphasized the negative impact of such price manipulation on the public and outlined plans for joint activities between the BOC and DA, including warehouse inspections to ensure compliance with duty and tax payments.
To combat smuggling more effectively, the BOC has intensified security measures at ports, employing a risk-based system in collaboration with the DA to ensure that legitimate importers are not adversely affected by these efforts.