By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has on Saturday (14 Dec 2024) ordered the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to intensify actions against agricultural smuggling.
The President said the agency must intensify the implementation of Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
He issued the order following the inspection of P178.5 million worth of smuggled mackerel in Manila on Saturday.
“Kaya’t ito ‘yung buong tinatawag na chain na kailangan nating buwagin,” Marcos said.
“At ito’y, as I said, is the first case under the new law of the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act. So, I’ve spoken to our Bureau of Customs, and I’ve spoken to the Department of Agriculture, and we have to keep going. Kailangang patibayin pa natin ito,” he added.
The President led the inspection of 21 container vans of frozen mackerels at the Port Area in Manila.
The shipment was intercepted by the BOC’s Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
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