Showing his strong political will to put an end to rice smuggling in the Philippines, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. bared on Wednesday the names of the rice smugglers who are destroying the flow of rice supply and demand in the market.
In his speech during the rice distribution in Taguig City, President Marcos said that the government has already filed smuggling charges against San Pedro Warehouse and Blue Sakura Agri Grain Corporation, FS. Ostia Rice Mill and Gold Rice Mill.
President Marcos said that the rice smugglers were charged with violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the Rice Tariffication Law, and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 (Republic Act No. 10845).
“Kaya po ay ngayon ay kinasuhan na natin ang San Pedro Warehouse and Blue Sakura Agri Grain Corporation, ang F.S. Ostia Rice Mill, [at] ang Gold Rush Rice Mill ay kasalukuyang haharap sa patong-patong na mga kaso dahil sa kanilang mga ginagawa,” President Marcos said.
“Bagong Pilipinas na po tayo ngayon, at atin pong susugpuin ang mga hindi po lumalaban nang patas. Wala pong puwang sa lipunan ang mga nanlalamang at nang-aapi sa kapwa,” the President added.
President Marcos made the remarks during the rice distribution at the Taguig City University Gymnasium, General Santos Avenue, Lower Bicutan in Taguig City where he assured the Filipino people of the government’s decisive move to ensure food security in the Philippines.
The rice distributed to the residents in Taguig was part of the smuggled rice seized in an operation of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Zamboanga City.
The President emphasized that he also wanted to send a strong warning against rice smugglers that the administration will not just sit idly in putting an end to their illegal activities that are hurting not only the economy but also the Filipino people.
“Una, upang mamahagi ng bigas para sa ating mga benepisyaryo. Pangalawa, upang bigyang-diin ang ating pagsisikap sa pagsulong ng seguridad ng pagkain sa bansa. At ang panghuli ay upang iparating sa inyo na seryoso ang pamahalaan sa pagsugpo sa smuggling, sa hoarding, at iba pang ilegal na gawaing nakaaapekto sa supply at presyo ng bilihin sa merkado,” President Marcos said.
“Binabalaan ko ang mga sumasabotahe sa ating ekonomiya: Kayong mga smuggler, kayong mga hoarder, at sindikato, tigilan na ninyo ang mga masama ninyong gawain,” he added.
President Marcos said that the rice smugglers will be charged for violating Republic Act No. 10845 and Republic Act No. 7581 (Price Act). | PND
Photo Courtesy by PCO