Seized smuggled onions
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized over 500 tons of smuggled onions from China inside 17 container vans at the Manila International Container Port Monday, April 13.
According to BOC, the consignee misdeclared the onions as apples. The smuggled onions were placed inside boxes of apples to hide the contents.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña assured to charge the consignee with multiple violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Lapeña added that the consignee may also be charged of economic sabotage as the smuggled cargo is estimated at P20 million.
“Since marami itong kanilang importations, itong mga container van na ipinarating nila, this can even go to a case of economic sabotage,” Lapeña explained.
(Since these importations are quite many, this can even go to a case of economic sabotage.)
The seizure was prompted by a report that reached the Department of Agriculture which in turn alerted Customs officials.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol was among those who personally inspected the shipments Monday. Piñol expressed concern that the smuggled onions might pose health risks when sold to consumers.
“Hindi dapat lumusot ito sapagkat delikado ito sa ating agrikultura. Maaaring may dalang sakit ito. May lupa pa eh. So hindi ito dumaan ng ating sanitary at phytosanitary clearances,” he said.
(These should not get through because it can be dangerous to our agriculture. They could be carrying diseases. There’s still soil attached, so it means these did not go through our phytosanitary clearances.)
Secretary Piñol added that should the smuggled onions reach the markets, they could cause unfavorable competition with local farmers.
“Dalawang bagay – tatamaan yung ating mga farmers, babagsak ang presyo ng sibuyas. Pangalawa, magkakaroon ng implikasyon sa ating agriculture sapagkat maaring may dalang sakit ito o mga peste,” Piñol concluded.
(Two things could happen: our farmers will be affected as price of onion drops. Secondly, there will be repercussions on our agriculture because of possible diseases or pests brought by the smuggled produce.) —Roderic Mendoza |UNTV News & Rescue
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