President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Monday issued a stern warning against agriculture smugglers, hoarders, and those who manipulate prices of agri-products, saying that their days are now numbered.
In his second State of the Nation (SONA), Marcos attributed the "deceitful" actions done by smugglers and hoarders as the reason behind the skyrocketing prices of agri-products in the local market.
"Hinahabol at ihahabla natin sila. Hindi rin ito tugma sa ating layunin. Hindi natin papayagan ang ganitong kalakaran. Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga smuggler at hoarder na 'yan," he stressed.
The President, who also sits as the Agriculture Secretary, also pointed out that the schemes of smugglers are jeopardizing the livelihood of local farmers and have been affecting the lives of consumers.
Earlier, Marcos ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to initiate an investigation into the hoarding, smuggling, and price fixing of agricultural commodities.
This comes after the House Committee on Agriculture and Food discovered the existence of an onion cartel.
Following the directive, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla said they are now preparing to file an economic sabotage case against traders and other industry players who are culprits behind the high prices of agri-goods.
