Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin assured on Tuesday, July 25 that agriculture smugglers, hoarders, and manipulators will soon face charges for their fraudulent acts that drives the price increase of agri-products in the country.
In a news released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Bersamin guaranteed that the cases will be filed "very soon".
“Their names have already been mentioned in prior administrations as engaged in smuggling of food products and they are very, very hazardous to our economy and our health,” he added.
The order comes after President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. issued a stern warning against agriculture smugglers, hoarders, and those who manipulate prices of agri-products, saying that their days are now numbered.
Marcos earlier ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to join forces with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and probe the matter.
According to Bersamin, the NBI and DOJ are still in the process of gathering evidence about the players behind the smuggling and hoarding.
He added that the filing of the cases "depends on the evidence" that the task force will collate.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla first bared that they are preparing to file an economic sabotage case against traders and other industry players.
