• NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
Baguio Chronicle
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Baguio Chronicle
No Result
View All Result
Home Cordillera

Senate says high-ranking “untouchables” behind veg smuggling

Angel Castillo by Angel Castillo
April 7, 2022
in Cordillera, News, Top Story
Reading Time: 2 mins read
5
SHARES
18
VIEWS

THE Philippine Senate has alleged that high-ranking government officials, including yet-unnamed politicians, are behind the illegal importation of vegetables from China that has been causing severe damage to the local industry.

The Senate Committee of the Whole has resumed its investigation into the issue of vegetable smuggling, which was brought up in December of last year by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Senators grilled the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) on their supposed failure to stop the smuggling of vegetables, even after Sotto’s privilege speech that raised the smuggling as a critical issue in the senate.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We have a situation where agencies take no action even when smuggling is brazenly committed. So aside from the fact that the BOC and the DA have been compromised, there are untouchables,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

“Those involved must be close to the powers that be, which is why we now have this situation,” Pangilinan added.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste Jr. confirmed before the Senate that “big-time” personalities were behind the illegal trade, saying that “highly placed” individuals have called him to drop the charges, but also hesitated to name names, seeking to reveal them in executive session, a proposal which was shot down.

“We at the (DA) will act swiftly and decisively to reprimand those involved among our ranks, officials, and staff. If found guilty, we will file the appropriate administrative charges against these individuals,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement.

Sotto also warned the public against the consumption of imported Chinese vegetables, which last for months as opposed to days compared to local produce, suggesting the possibility of the use of toxic formalin or formaldehyde preservatives.

“We haven’t accredited vegetables from China to enter our country. We only allow fruits from China,” Laciste told the Senate hearing.

Senators also pointed out that officials have failed to sort out the discrepancies in the volume of import products based on issued permits, and the actual volume of imports, a supposed indication that they did not want confirmation of import volume.

 

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Bird flu confirmed in Benguet, several areas, DA orders tighter restrictions

Next Post

BBM Baguio HQ gets fact-checked by Guinness World Records

Angel Castillo

Angel Castillo

Angel graduated with a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines Baguio. As the youngest on the team, he writes on mental health and well being, and the millennial’s point of view.

Related Posts

Swift clean-up after fire allows Baguio market stall owners’ early return

Swift clean-up after fire allows Baguio market stall owners’ early return

March 27, 2023

Majority of children in conflict with the law are male- CSWDO

March 27, 2023

DOT optimistic on Cordi festivals, “revenge tourism”

Dung traders in La Trinidad told to lobby for regulation after closures

Baguio calls on private individuals to sell lots for parking, housing projects

Don’t burn garbage and leaves, Baguio Fire warns, as city fires up in only three months

Latest Stories

New Heights – Millstones and milestones

March 28, 2023

On Point – Flight may equate to guilt

March 28, 2023

Rooster’s Tales – Igorots red-tagged!

March 28, 2023

Baguio Chronicle

 

The Baguio Chronicle is the fastest- growing news publication in Northern Luzon today. It was established on December 6, 2009 in Baguio City.

© 2022 The Baguio Chronicle Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In