Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently instructed the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to strictly implement the Republic Act No. 12022, known as the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, to intensify the crackdown on agricultural product smuggling.
President Marcos issued this directive after inspecting a batch of seized imported frozen mackerel from China at the Manila International Container Terminal.
It is reported that this batch of mackerel, stored in 21 containers, was confiscated by customs due to the lack of necessary import permits from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Subsequently, President Marcos ordered the distribution of these frozen fish to the residents of the Tondo slums in Manila.
The president stated that this is the first case detected since the implementation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, highlighting the government's firm stance against agricultural product smuggling.
He noted, "Smugglers disrupt the domestic market order, seek illegal profits, and cause loss of government tax revenue, and they must be severely punished."
President Marcos further emphasized that smuggling of agricultural products not only disrupts market prices but also threatens national food security. He stated, "We need to completely destroy the smuggling chain to ensure the stability and security of our food supply."
It is understood that President Marcos officially signed the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act in September this year. According to the act, smuggling, hoarding, price gouging, or monopolistic practices involving agricultural and fishery products are considered serious economic crimes. Offenders can face life imprisonment without parole and may be fined up to five times the value of the smuggled goods.
