Senate cites Chinese national Chaoqun Shi in contempt for agri smuggling

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform cited Chinese national Chaoqun Shi in contempt for alleged agricultural smuggling and for "lying under oath."

Senator Erwin Tulfo initiated the contempt motion, expressing frustration over Shi's "repeated lying" during the hearing.

Shi, who was identified as a lessee of Vigour Freezer and previously apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration for alleged smuggling, claimed he had no local contacts since arriving in the Philippines in 2017.

Senators including Erwin Tulfo, Committee Chairman Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, and Raffy Tulfo pressed Shi to reveal who facilitated his business dealings in the Philippines.

The committee's action follows a raid and inspection that uncovered P100 million worth of undocumented frozen meat products in a warehouse Shi allegedly leased and converted into a cold storage facility.