CITY OF MALOLOS — Sen. Imee Marcos has cast doubts on the quality of smuggled rice that finds it’s way to the local market.

In a chance interview with the senator when she led the distribution of the assistance to individuals in crisis situation beneficiaries in Malolos on Wednesday (February 28), Bulacan mediamen asked her on the status of the suspected smuggled rice stocks that were raided by the Bureau of Customs in several warehouses in the towns of Bocaue and Balagtas in August last year.

The presidential sister said that the current secretary of the agriculture department has ordered an investigation on perceived anomalies on the rice stocks of the National Food Authority and added maybe this should also include investigations on smuggled rice.

She noted that media and local officials are not remiss in reporting the address and names of corporations on the suspected smuggled rice.

The contents of the raided rice warehouses were earlier reported to be subjected for confiscations and to be distributed to local consumers.

However, the senator noted that there were reports that the said rice stocks may not be phytosanitary compliant because there were no first border inspections that were conducted on the suspected smuggled rice.

She pointed out, ” Hindi maintindihan kung ano ang smuggled at kung ano ang imported. Napakalabo.”

No reports on the status on the suspected smuggled rice were also disclosed.

It can be recalled that Alvin Enciso, chief of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, said after the raid on the suspected smuggled rice in Intercity Industrial Estate and Golden City Business Park in Bulacan in August last year, that the staple grains can be subjected to confiscations if the owners fail to produce necessary documents 15 days after its discovery.

The BOC surprise inspections in August last year, were also joined by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo, House committee chairman on Agriculture and Food Rep. Mark Enverga of the 1st District of Quezon and Bulacan 5th District Rep. Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz together with officials of the Philippine Coast Guard, were conducted on several rice warehouses in Bulacan in August 2023.

Romualdez pointed out that during the inspections that “Hoarders profit from the misery of others, and for that they deserve to be in jail.”

On the other hand, Enverga later said said they are just waiting for the official report of the BOC, Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry on the status of the rice warehouses under investigations.

If the suspected imported rice were found undervalued or smuggled, Enverga said these can be confiscated, as stated by the Executive Branch, and can be given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

📷: Sen. Imee Marcos FB