MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is set to conduct a Senate committee hearing into the attempted smuggling of around P700 million worth of rice from Vietnam, questioning why big-time agricultural smugglers have continued to evade imprisonment and conviction despite repeated seizures of large shipments.
Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, raised the issue during Thursday’s plenary session, pointing to the apparent gap between the numerous apprehensions and confiscations of smuggled agricultural products and the lack of convictions of those allegedly behind the operations.
“We want to ensure that these cases are properly monitored through the Committee on Agriculture. We therefore request that this manifestation be referred to the committee so we can exercise our oversight functions,” Pangilinan said.
“This will allow us to give the matter greater attention, work toward a resolution, and ensure that those behind the P700 million worth of Vietnamese rice allegedly brought into the country surreptitiously and illegally are held accountable and penalized," he added.
Pangilinan said the attempted rice smuggling is particularly alarming because of its potential impact on the livelihood of Filipino rice farmers and the country’s food security.
“They are killing our local farmers. They are taking advantage of the hardships faced by our farmers, which is why this must be given serious attention,” he added.
According to reports, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Navy, apprehended the MV Tay Son 2 and MV Lucky Star last month over questionable documentation and the cancellation of vital sanitary permits.
The MV Tay Son 2, which was carrying 12,500 metric tons of rice, attempted to leave the Port of Davao without completing the required Customs processing, prompting the Philippine Navy to intercept and apprehend the vessel at sea.
Meanwhile, the MV Lucky Star was apprehended at the Port of Limay after authorities found that its import permit did not correspond with the actual contents of the shipment. The vessel was found carrying nearly 7,500 metric tons of rice.
The two vessels are believed to have been carrying a combined 20,000 metric tons of Vietnamese rice, with an estimated value of around P700 million based on a prevailing world market price of $420 per metric ton.
In another development, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the recent price adjustments on rice were a product of “price corrections,” noting that keeping commodities low harms farmers.
Speaking in an interview at the state-run media PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Thursday, DA Undersecretary Asis Perez said that comparing current prices against last year’s unusually low baseline creates a misleading picture of price hikes.
"I don't think we can keep lowering the price just because that is the 'correct' price. In fact, we told everyone last year that the price was extremely low, and our farmers suffered losses," Perez said in Filipino.
In 2025, the price of well-milled rice was only P49 per kilogram, compared to P55 in 2024.
“So, if you use that low figure as a baseline, it appears there was a massive increase; however, we view the current situation as a price correction—simply a return to the proper price level,” Perez said.
