Senators slammed officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) over the seizure of agricultural products, including onions, found in the luggage of 10 flight attendants from Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform on Monday, January 16, Sen. JV Ejercito questioned authorities for going after crew members of the Philippine Airlines rather than big-time smugglers of agricultural products.
"Ito papatulan natin pero yung mga big-time cartel, smuggler, protector, nakakalusot. I feel bad," Ejercito said
The senator also considers the incident as an 'eye-opener' for the severity of the problem caused by the high prices of agricultural goods, particularly onions, in the Philippines.
"This is an eye-opener, sabi ko nga, na sa halip na mansanas at ubas, sibuyas na ang pasalubong ng ating mga alien crew para sa kanilang pamilya. Iyan ang ating sitwasyon," Ejercito stressed.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo also criticized the BoC for the incident and even accused them of being close to big-time smugglers.
"Bakit iyon yung pinaghuhuli ninyo? Dapat iyon pinaghuhuli ninyo ay yung mga big-time. Bakit hindi niyo pa hulihin? Siguro nasa opisina ninyo palagi, pinag-kape ninyo. This is unacceptable," Tulfo stressed.
"Ang kapal ng mukha ninyo. Pinahiya pa ninyo itong airline crew. Para lang pasalubong sana sa pamilya. Hulihin ninyo yung mga big-time smuggler," the senator added.
BoC - Ninoy Aquino International Airport said that seized agricultural products lack the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
"Under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the importation of plant products considered “Regulated Importations,” require prior clearance or permit from the concerned regulatory government agency," BoC-NAIA explained.
"Further investigation is underway against the flight crew for alleged illegal importation, which violates the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Presidential Decree 1433, and the Plant Quarantine Law," the agency added.
BoC insists that travelers could not bring in vegetables into the Philippines without the required Plant Quarantine Clearance, or Sanitary & Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the BPI.
The agency said that the requirement serves as a 'safeguard' and prevents the spread of plant pests in the Philippines.
