Authorities have impounded two containers of smuggled onions at the Mindanao Container Terminal Port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental following the joint operation conducted by the Bureau of Customs Region 10, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Enforcement Security Services and the Department of Agriculture.

The operation — which was also joined by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. — stemmed from information that shipments consigned to a certain Asterzenmed Inc. contained onions instead of the declared bread and pastries.

The 50,000 kilograms of onions came from China and arrived in Cagayan de Oro on 6 December.

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz has assured the public that they remain committed to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"Onions are being sold at higher prices in our local markets. This should not have been a predicament for an agricultural country like us. The more empowered these people feel about smuggling these products, the more our economy will suffer. So, we cannot let that happen because the people will be the most affected," Ruiz said.