JV Ejercito to file bill declaring hoarding, profiteering, cartels as economic sabotage
January 16, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor JV” Ejercito on Monday
said he will file an amendment to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law, seeking
to declare hoarding, profiteering, and cartels as forms of economic sabotage.
Ejercito, the principal author of the said
law, explained that those who deprive farmers of their profit should be charged
with heavier penalties since the productivity of farmers is directly
proportional to the growth of our local economies.
“I intend to file an amendment to the law
which I principally authored, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law, to include
cartels, profiteering, and hoarding para talagang maproteksyunan ang ating mga
magsasaka sa local agricultural industry,” he said in an interview.
“Kaya nating ginawang economic sabotage ito
because everytime smuggled goods come in or may nagsasamantala, we are
depriving our Filipino farmers of their profit,” he added.
At the same time, the lawmaker from San Juan
will file an amendment that seeks to involve more agencies in the enforcement
of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law.
“At least wala nang lusot na katulad ng sabi
ng Customs, na sila lang. Napakahirap ding batanyan ang ating bansa. We are an
archipelago. Madaling maglusot, magpuslit ng kung ano-ano because of our wide
coastlines. We will include other agencies in the enforcement,” he said.
Ejercito also clarified that the intent of the
said law is to punish large-scale smugglers and not ordinary individuals who
bring in agricultural goods for personal consumption.
The lawmaker was referring to a memorandum
issued by the Bureau of Customs, stating that more than 11 kilos of onions and
around six kilos of onions of lemon with a combined value of $100 were recently
confiscated from several Philippine Airlines crew members.
“Mayroon tayong mga sinet diyan na mga
quantity. Ang intention natin when we filed this is to go after the big-time
importers and smugglers of agricultural products who are depriving our farmers
of their livelihood,” he said.
“Itong mga crew na ito, they’re not depriving
(farmers). Napakaliit ng kanilang dinala. For personal consumption ito. Hindi
naman nakakasakit ito. That is not the intention of the law. I should know. I
am the principal author of the Anti- Agricultural Smuggling Law,” he added.
