Pangilinan sees parallels between agri-smuggling, Pogo operations

Senator Francis Pangilinan highlighted striking similarities between agricultural smuggling schemes and the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogos).

He observed that both illegal activities appear to be led by Chinese syndicates with Filipino accomplices, including businessmen and government officials.

Pangilinan cited circumstantial evidence suggesting collusion between Chinese smuggling syndicates, local businessmen, and corrupt officials within agencies like the Bureau of Customs (BOC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Bureau of Immigration (BI).

These officials allegedly allow smugglers to operate freely, with occasional raids and seizures creating a false sense of law enforcement while major smugglers avoid prosecution for economic sabotage.

He noted that agricultural products, such as white and red onions and frozen mackerel, are being smuggled and resold to Filipinos.

As an example, he cited the case of smuggled frozen mackerel from China that was misdeclared as chicken poppers, with a significant value discrepancy.

The Senator also lamented that, similar to Pogos, the bureaucracy is being corrupted by these agricultural product exporters.