00:00The government of an enforcement group that will look for and arrest those involved in agricultural smuggling has been established.
00:09It is under the auspices of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
00:16Here, the punishment of those involved in alleged illegal activities is heavier.
00:23Krezel Pardilla is in the center of the news.
00:27President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has already enacted the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
00:36It is far from laughing at the heavy punishment of those involved.
00:40Local farmers, fishermen, and consumers should be protected against smuggling or illegal entry of goods.
00:49Supply chains or lobbies are growing during the crisis.
00:54Cartels are manipulating the supply and price of goods.
01:20In 2023, P3 billion was lost due to agricultural smuggling.
01:26P230 million was lost due to smuggled agricultural products in the past 6 months.
01:33There is no shortage of smuggled products.
01:37That is why the government is not only losing because it is not collecting the goods.
01:42Local farmers and fishermen should also be warned that they cannot compete with cheap but illegal products.
01:51There is also a risk to the health of people due to the absence of sanitary permits.
02:13These crimes threaten not only our economy, but our national security as well.
02:19It jeopardizes the livelihood of hard-working Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.
02:24And it threatens the food sustainability of our communities.
02:28But the new law is not only targeting masterminds.
02:34This law does not just target the masterminds.
02:37It holds all accomplices accountable.
02:40Financiers, brokers, employees, even transporters.
02:44We are establishing the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council, which I will chair.
02:50The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group will be formed to find and arrest smuggling operations.
02:58Special teams of prosecutors will be assigned to investigate and quickly punish smugglers.
03:05The Department of Agriculture approved the new law.
03:08The DA will give visitation power to inspect warehouses and code storage where illegal products may be impacted.
03:17Agriculture Secretary Francisco T. Laurel Jr. will be in charge of this.
03:21We will work harder to catch these smugglers.
03:26I hope that there will be plans to smuggle illegal goods because this is non-bailable.
03:36If you are caught, we will catch you all.
03:40Kalei Zalpardilla for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
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