Gov’t officials at empleyado na sangkot sa Agri-Smuggling mas mabigat na parusa inihain sa Kongreso!

Dahil sa patuloy na paglaganap ng Agricultural Smuggling sa bansa nais ni Agri Party List Representative Wilbert Lee na lagyan pa ng mas matalas na pangil ang Republic Act No. 10845 kung kaya’t naghain ito sa Kongreso ng karagdagang batas na naglalayong patawan ng mas mabigat na parusa ang public officials at employees na sangkot sa smuggling.

Ayon sa nilalaman ng House Bill No. 5742 na isinumite sa Kongreso ni Rep. Lee nararapat lamang na hindi lang ang mga illegal importers ang maparusahan bagkus isama na rin ang mga public officials at maging ang mga empleyado na kasangkot sa agricultural smuggling kung saan ang kaparusahan ay perpetual absolute disqualification at hindi na makakapasok pa sa anumang sangay ng gobyerno.

“The agriculture sector will not progress and issues relating to it will not be solved if the supposed protectors and implementors of public interest are behind agricultural smuggling,” ayon kay Rep. Lee

“Strict enforcement is needed as government officials and employees are agents of the people. The power and position entrusted to them should only be used for the benefit of all and not for their own personal gain,” Lee added.

The enactment of RA 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016” which was authored by AGRI Party-list paved the way to promote the productivity of the agricultural sector, and protect farmers and enterprises from unscrupulous trades and importers.

Ayon kay Rep. Lee ang RA 10845 ay nagdedeklara na ang large-scale smuggling ng agricultural products ay maliwanag na isang “economic sabotage” subalit magpahanggang sa ngayon ay talamak ang smuggling sa bansa at bibihira umano ang napaparusahan sa ganitong uri ng ilegal na aktibidades

“Agriculture industries are still competing against smuggled products, the latter dominating the market. As a result, there is a decline in local produce. Local agricultural sectors are restrained from continuing their production because of fear of their products going to waste or being sold at much lower prices and resulting to loss of profit,” ani Lee.

HB No. 5742 aims to (1) include the other unlawful act of market abuses; and (2) modify a stricter penalty to those public officials or employees who tolerate, protect, or take part in large-scale agricultural smuggling, and other market abuses, namely but not limited to, hoarding, profiteering, or cartel in the country.

The penalty of up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural product or the product subject to hoarding, profiteering, or cartel and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided plus interest at the prevailing legal rate shall be imposed on any person who violates the law.

“Dahil talamak pa rin ang agricultural smuggling, dehadong-dehado ang ating mga magsasaka at lalong nababaon sa kakapiranggot na kita. Sa paghihigpit sa implementasyon ng batas para sugpuin ang krimeng ito, bukod sa tataas ang produksyon at kita ng mga magsasaka, tataas din ang kita ng gobyerno, na magagamit sa serbisyo para sa mga Pilipino. Kapag nangyari ito, Winner Tayo Lahat,” pagtatapos na pahayag ni Rep. Lee. (Cesar Barquilla)

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Source: Police Files Tonite