00:00Beware what lies neath those nondescript and unmarked boxes.
00:03True enough, these suspicious boxes in a Navotas warehouse
00:06contained hundreds of thousands of kilos in essential produce
00:10that now have been condemned for destruction.
00:13Arcleso Pardilla on hot agricultural products
00:16in the amount of P50 million pesos
00:18that nearly made it past inspection.
00:24The Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Customs
00:27raided a warehouse in Barangay Bangkola,
00:29Sinavata City, at 8 this morning.
00:32The storage facility was reportedly storing kimchi and egg tarts.
00:36However, upon closer inspection and opening the unmarked boxes,
00:40the authorities discovered various misdeclared agricultural products.
00:44Approximately 225,000 kilograms of white onion
00:49with an estimated market value exceeding P22 million pesos
00:53were discovered by the authorities.
00:55According to the DA, the importation of onions is currently banned
00:59and the lack of a sanitary and phytosanitary permit
01:02raises concerns about their safety for consumption.
01:06In addition to onions, authorities found multiple containers
01:09filled with undocumented boxes of tomatoes and carrots.
01:13The total value of the contraband
01:15believed to have originated from China
01:17is estimated at P50 million pesos.
01:25How will this affect the farmers if it's already out in the market?
01:28It will affect the prices and livelihoods of our farmers, right?
01:32The products will either be returned to the country of origin or destroyed.
01:36However, to avoid wastage,
01:38the Bureau of Plant Industry will take samples for food safety testing.
01:42To see if this is still okay,
01:44we will file an appropriate request to our court
01:48that this can still be sold
01:51and we will probably sell it to Kadiwa if they allow it.
01:55We will see if it has residues of pesticides,
01:59microorganisms that affect it,
02:02and if it's safe.
02:04Because our secretary mentioned
02:07that this does not have a sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance,
02:11so it's really risky
02:13if this can be sold in our market.
02:15The Bureau of Customs is continuing its investigation
02:18to determine the actual owner of the cargo.
02:21We will file a criminal case on smuggling.
02:25Meanwhile, the local government of Nevada City
02:28has shut down the warehouse.
02:30It's not registered.
02:32There's no building permit.
02:34Agriculture Secretary Francisco Quilorel Jr. said
02:38the smuggled products consignee will be blacklisted.
02:41Of course, if we see the consignee,
02:43whoever the president or the directors are,
02:45they should hide first.
02:46Because we will not stop this
02:49until we find them and put them in jail.
02:54Kalei zalpar, Ilya, for the new and better Philippines.
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