[In this photo taken in October 2020, business at the vegetable trading post in the Benguet capital town of La Trinidad continues as assorted fresh produce are unloaded there daily for shipment to different markets in Baguio City, Metro Manila, and other parts of the country. (Photo by=EV ESPIRITU)]

MANILA: Senator Francis Pangilinan on Monday blamed the “untouchables” for the continuous smuggling of agricultural products into the country, while a group of vegetable farmers and traders from Benguet slammed the “inaction” of local officials in addressing the influx of smuggled items in key markets, PH Inquirer reported.

“There are untouchables. There are untouchables. They have backers that’s why they are not caught. That’s my suspicion. They’re too close with those in a position that’s why we are in this situation,” Pangilinan said during the Senate Committee of the Whole’s investigation into agricultural smuggling. Pangilinan’s remarks came on the heels of a complaint of a group of vegetable farmers that they were losing an average of P2.5 million, representing 40 percent of their daily income, to smugglers who bring in carrots from abroad. Agot Balanoy, public relations officer of the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas, lamented the effects of smuggling on local farmers. 

“We started complaining last year of July and August. But the Department of Agriculture denied that there is smuggling or smuggled vegetables coming from China entering our markets,” she said. She slammed the “inaction” of local officials on the plight of the farmers. She further cited a resolution filed by ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Go Yap which called for a probe similar to that being conducted by the Senate.