SEN. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called for the same level of public scrutiny and accountability for agricultural smuggling as for the flood control corruption scandal, saying both involve abuses that harm ordinary Filipinos. His call followed the interception of two vessels carrying nearly 20,000 metric tons of rice allegedly smuggled from Vietnam, with the shipments estimated to be worth about P700 million.
“Rice smugglers profit from farmers’ losses. Corrupt contractors profit while communities are submerged in floods,” Pangilinan said in an interview with DWIZ radio.
He said agricultural smuggling threatens food security, undermines local farmers and livestock raisers, and can leave consumers bearing the consequences.
“Rice smugglers and the government officials protecting them are like corrupt contractors involved in the flood control scam and the public officials enabling them. Both trade away the welfare of the people,” said Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform.
He warned that officials from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), local government units, the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Public Works and Highways, and other agencies should also be held accountable if found to have allowed or facilitated the illegal activities.
“Even accomplices and enablers must be held accountable,” he said.
Pangilinan requested that his committee investigate the rice smuggling cases, expecting the probe to begin before the end of October, possibly alongside the DA’s budget hearings scheduled for Oct. 20 and 21.
Authorities intercepted vessels MV Lucky Star and MV Tay Son 2 in separate operations in September in Limay, Bataan, and Davao, respectively. Pangilinan cited shipments of about 7,500 metric tons and roughly 12,000 metric tons of rice.
He said the shipments had incomplete documentation and that he had asked the DA and BOC to reconcile discrepancies in their reported cargo volumes.
Pangilinan added that the Senate panel inquiry would examine the shipments’ consignees, the vessels’ captains, and any possible involvement of government personnel. He also said the Department of Justice should participate because it would handle the filing of criminal complaints.
Pangilinan stressed the importance of securing official documents and sufficient evidence to avoid court dismissal of the cases. He recalled that previous smuggling investigations had problems when cases were filed with incomplete records or photocopies instead of original official documents.
“We will expose all of it and closely monitor the case,” he said, adding that government agencies had committed to cooperating with the investigation.
Pangilinan said the investigation would also test the enforcement of the law against agricultural economic sabotage, which he said provides authorities with stronger legal tools to prosecute large-scale agricultural smuggling.
He cited previous Senate investigations into smuggling, including a 2024 case involving imported pork worth about P100 million that was allegedly unfit for human consumption. Pangilinan said the Senate would revisit earlier cases and follow up on individuals who had failed to appear at hearings despite being subpoenaed.
The senator also raised concerns about the low number of cases filed in past smuggling investigations, saying seizures would have little deterrent effect if those responsible were not prosecuted.
“Especially with Super El Niño expected to further burden the agriculture and fisheries sectors, and with other threats to our food security, no one should be untouchable,” he said.
Pangilinan said the Senate would also examine how the seized rice would be accounted for and disposed of, noting that discrepancies between initial announcements and records submitted during case filing had been a concern in previous cases.
He said the government must show that agricultural smuggling demands meaningful accountability, not just mere seizure of shipments.
He added that the looming Super El Niño makes protecting local food production more urgent, as farmers and fisherfolk face additional risks from adverse weather.
