P38 million ‘smuggled rice’ seized in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — The government, through the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage (AAES) Council, seized P38 million worth of allegedly smuggled rice in Talisay City, Cebu yesterday.

The Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs said 20,526 sacks of rice stored in a warehouse in Barangay San Roque were seized during the AAES Council’s first enforcement operation.

The council was formed under Republic Act 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which was signed into law in September last year.

A letter of authority was issued by the executive committee on June 19, directing the law enforcement group to inspect warehouses in Kimba Compound due to reports of smuggled agricultural products.

The executive committee is composed of the Office of the President’s permanent representative and AAES Council chairman Frederick Go, and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

The enforcement group was led by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Maritime Group.

The group found that the area occupied by the River Valley Distribution Inc. contained substantial rice stocks.

A seizure order was granted by the Court of Tax Appeals on July 8, following a petition filed by the PNP-CIDG in coordination with a special team of prosecutors of the Department of Justice.