Enough laws vs hoarding, smuggling, profiteering — Abby Binay

Senatorial candidate Makati Mayor Abby Binay has called anew for the stricter implementation of laws against hoarding, smuggling, and profiteering, saying the authorities must follow through with the prosecution and imprisonment of the perpetrators.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday of the senatorial slate of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, the mayor said the issue is not the lack of legislation, but the poor enforcement of existing laws.

“There’s no shortage of legislation, it’s always the implementation,” Binay said.

The mayor reiterated her call for more aggressive steps to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the members of rice cartels and smugglers who are largely responsible for the soaring prices of rice and other agricultural products.

She also underscored the role of the media in the successful conviction of smugglers, hoarders, and profiteers.

“I believe we would see better results if the media were to closely monitor how these cases are being handled by government prosecutors and the appropriate courts, and give regular updates to the public. We need to make sure these cases are kept in the public eye until the perpetrators are convicted and sent to prison,” the mayor said.

Under Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act, enacted and signed into law last year, the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine five times the value of the agricultural and fishery products subject of the crime shall be imposed on a person who commits any of the acts enumerated under Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Act. These include agricultural smuggling, agricultural hoarding, agricultural profiteering, and engaging in cartels, which are all defined as economic sabotage under the law.