EDITORIAL - Now get the big fish

Finally, a conviction for smuggling agricultural products.

Last month, the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 24 found businesswoman Divina Bisco Aguilar guilty of violating Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016. Aguilar was sentenced to three to four years in prison for misdeclaring a shipment of carrots from Singapore as frozen pastry buns. The 2,500 cartons of carrots, appraised at over P2 million, arrived at the Port of Manila on June 26, 2020.

Customs duties, taxes and fees for the shipment amounted to P342,646. Tipped off about the shipment, the Bureau of Customs conducted a physical inspection and uncovered the misdeclaration. On Sept. 10, 2020, the BOC filed a complaint against Aguilar before the Department of Justice for violations of RA 10863.

It took three years to resolve a smuggling case involving just P2 million, but the public can look on the bright side – it could have taken a decade or more. Perhaps such cases can hurdle the judicial mill faster if Congress passes a bill specifically targeting agricultural smuggling, classifying it as the more serious offense of economic sabotage, with corresponding stiffer penalties.

Even before the enactment of such a law, people are expecting bigger fish to be caught and sent behind bars not only for smuggling agricultural products, but also for hoarding and other illegal methods of artificially manipulating supply and prices of farm commodities. Politicians keep perorating about cartels and hoarders of basic agricultural commodities including rice and onions. But once the photo ops in raided warehouses are over, how many supposed offenders have been prosecuted and sent behind bars?

Last week, the head of the Sugar Regulatory Administration said farmgate prices of sugar have dropped to P60 per kilo, yet refined white sugar is still retailed at an overpriced P110 a kilo. In some areas, the retail price of one brand is over P130 a kilo. The high prices – double the retail prices just two years ago, and much higher than prices in neighboring countries – have persisted despite several importations of tons of sugar and harvests since late last year.

Confectionery and other sweetened food products account for the biggest chunk of food inflation, which in turn is a key driver of the high inflation rate. Yet there is zero political will to investigate the questionable award of sugar import deals to just three favored groups. Against this backdrop, people are unimpressed with the conviction of small fry like Divina Aguilar.