Customs chief urged to file charges against rice smugglers

The agriculture lobby group Samahang Industriya sa Agrikultura (SINAG) on Wednesday called on Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to immediately file charges of economic sabotage against RPR International Trading, their brokers, agents and cohorts in government for allegedly attempting to smuggle twelve 40-foot containers of rice, right in the heart of the customs headquarters.

“This is another litmus test on Commissioner Faeldon’s resolve to combat smuggling, there is already a law in place – RA10845 – that penalizes smuggling of agricultural products as an act that constitute economic sabotage, a non-bailable offence,” SINAG Chairperson Rosendo So said in a statement.