Smuggled yellow, red onions seized

The Department of Agriculture on Saturday said authorities have discovered approximately P30 million worth of "smuggled" yellow onions, even as red onions were also seized in Divisoria, Manila on Friday.

According to DA Assistant Secretary James Layug, authorities found an estimated 100,000 kilos of yellow onions on 29 November after intercepting four 40-footer container vans.

Layug said officials received an intelligence report that the container vans carried falsely declared agricultural products.

He cited the inconsistency in the import paperwork for those cargoes, suggesting that no food safety requirements were applied for by the importers.

"This poses a great risk to our consumers," Layug added.

On Friday, joint police and customs operatives raided a building in Divisoria where suspected smuggled red onions were being kept.

Raided on the strength of a letter of authority issued by Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz was the DNR Building in Santo Cristo Street in Manila.

In Tacloban, Sen. Imee Marcos warned a cartel, in cahoots with smugglers, is behind the dumping of imported onions into the country.

Marcos said she favors the importation of onions, albeit in small quantities, just enough to meet the domestic needs until the local producers start harvesting early next year.

Marcos said she hopes her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will be less kind and go after those hoarding the supply of onions including the smugglers.

"We need to calibrate our importation so it will not kill our vegetable growers in the north. Importation should not be done when our local farmers have started harvesting," she said.

ELMER RECUERDO