BENGUET LAWMAKER WANTS SMUGGLERS PERSECUTED AFTER ANOTHER SEIZURE OF IMPORTED CARROTS FROM CHINA

August 20, 2022 Headlines

LA TRINIDAD – Fuming, Benguet lawmaker Eric Go Yap, called on authorities to immediately identify and arrest all the smugglers that have caused the suffering of affected farmers, particularly in Benguet, after smuggled carrots were seized anew. Despite the push to fully investigate the vegetable smuggling, another shipment of carrots from China were seized by authorities on Tuesday (August 16) during a joint operation of the Bureau of Customs, Manila International Container Port, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and the Department of Trade and Industry.

“May nahuling shipment galing China na naglalaman ng smuggled carrots na idineklarang chocolates sa Manila North Harbor Port. Sasailalim pa ito sa seizure and disposal proceedings para matukoy kung gaano karami ang laman at kung magkanoang halaga nito,” said Yap. “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa BOC sa agarang pagresponde sa
ating patuloy na panawagan na higpitan ang pagbabatay sa pagpasok at pagkalat sa marketng smuggled agricultural
products.”

Yap however was firm, “ngunit, hindi tayo dapat tumigil sa nahuli lang at nakumpiska lang yung smuggled goods. Dapat ay makasuhan ang mga responsable dito at maipakita na may makulong para magsilbing babala sa mga
gustong ituloy pa ang ganitong illegal na Gawain.” Rep. Yap, since assuming as caretaker for Benguet in
2020, vowed to help farmers in their plight against smuggling and has been in close coordination with the BoC to
help curve the illegal entry of vegetables in the country.

“Mahigpit tayong makikipag-ugnayan sa BOC at iba pang ahensya para siguradong mapanagot ang smugglers na responsable sa pagpasok sa shipment na nahuli kaninang umaga at sa mga nauna pang mga kaso. Atkung mapatunayan na may kasabwat na government official o employee dito, agad nating ipapatawag sa Kongreso,” the
Benguet lawmaker vowed. Yap together with Davao City’s Paolo Duterte last week filed a house bill urging the
house committee on agriculture and food to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the continued smuggling of
agricultural products into the country despite existing laws.

He added, “ meron rin tayong ipinanukala na House Resolution No. 108 na hinihimok ang Kongreso na imbestigahan ang patuloy na smuggling ng agricultural products sa bansa. Kasama ng ating mga kapwa mambabatas, layunin natin puksain ang agricultural smuggling na patuloy na nagpapahirap sa ating farmers at
sa buong bansa. Mahalin ang sariling atin, ikulong ang lahat ng salarin sa smuggling.”

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN