00:00A stash of smuggled produce and seafood fare was seized by customs personnel recently at the Port of Manila.
00:06This failed attempt to sneak in this more misdeclared cargo value that 200 million pesos
00:11could have led to substantial keep for local fisher folk,
00:15as our J. M. Pinenda threshers out more details in this report.
00:19At first look, this container van might seem like just an ordinary shipment
00:24and mere boxes that look like regular cargo.
00:26But during inspection by officials from the Bureau of Customs or BOC
00:30and the Department of Agriculture or DA,
00:33they uncovered box after box of smuggled agricultural products including makarela.
00:38This is part of more than 20 container vans recently seized by BOC.
00:42Authorities have already opened the first two containers,
00:45both of which also contained smuggled agricultural products.
00:49Ngayon na-confirm natin na talagang lahat ng buong shipments na yun ay smuggled goods,
00:55like makarela.
00:56And I actually went to the customs office to meet the commissioner nga
01:00para i-follow up yung mga cases nga kung ano nangyari.
01:04And I think the commissioner is happy to show, please.
01:08According to authorities, the shipment came from China.
01:11It was also misdeclared because they listed the contents of the container
01:15as taro sweet potato bowls instead of makarela.
01:18The value of the confiscated agricultural products is estimated at over 200 million pesos.
01:24The Agriculture Department said that such a large volume of smuggled goods
01:28affects local agricultural workers once they reach the market.
01:31The BOC also assured the public that they will strengthen monitoring of all shipment entering and leaving the country
01:54following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
01:57The agency also vowed that no illegal cargo will slip through and that anyone caught smuggling will be held accountable.
02:04Cases have already been filed and a preliminary investigation into the safe code is underway.
02:09Nakapag-file na tayo, nakapag-submit tayo ng for filing of cases, labing dalawa.
02:16Hingil dito sa nangyaring pagpuslit ng smuggling ng makarela.
02:20So meron tayong papanagutin dito sa tulong ng Department of Justice, mahigpit natin ipatutupad yung pagbabawal
02:29at gagamitan natin yan ng specificong provision ng mga batas upang mapanagot natin kung sino ang mga nagpaso nito.
02:37The government also warned anyone planning to smuggled illegal goods.
02:40Yung provision, lalo-lalo na nung bagong batas, yung Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, mabigat yan.
02:50Meron niyang pagkakakulong, parusa at tingnan nila yan, meron niyang no-bail provision.
02:57Ibig sabihin, pag kinasuhan na sila dyan, sumampas sa korte, nasa kulungan na sila.
03:01Authorities are also studying whether the safe agricultural products can actually be donated.
03:06J.M. Pineda, from the National TV Network, for New and Better Philippines.
