Marcos signs law punishing agri smugglers

MANILA, Philippines, September 27 ------ Stressing the need to shield both consumers and the agriculture sector from smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel activities, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed on Thursday Republic Act No. 12022 which penalizes such offenses as nonbailable acts of agricultural economic sabotage.

Aimed at protecting the agriculture sector and consumer, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act imposes harsher penalties of life imprisonment for those convicted of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel activities plus a fine five times the value of the involved agri-fisheries products. Those knowingly transporting or storing smuggled products or allowing the use of ports, resorts or airports in the commission of economic sabotage will face 20 to 30 years imprisonment and a fine thrice the value of the involved agri-fisheries products.

After signing the measure into law, the President stressed that economic sabotage in agriculture was “not simply a tale of dubious deals and inflated profits; it manifests as well as hunger, desperation and betrayal.”

Source: inquirer.net