The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform on Wednesday cited a Chinese national in contempt for allegedly lying during a hearing on agri-smuggling.

Shi Chaoqun, a lessee of a warehouse owned by Vigour Global Logistics Corp. in Kawit, Cavite, denied having any contacts in government or elsewhere who assisted him in facilitating the alleged smuggling.

Senators, however, believed his statements were false.

At the hearing, Committee chairperson Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan cited reports that indicated the warehouse had been converted into a cold storage facility to conceal roughly P100 million worth of frozen meat products lacking proper documentation.

“The DA inspectorate and enforcement office showed that 10 cold storage facilities were found concealed behind a false wall obstructed by a van. Upon dismantling the false wall, the composite team uncovered cold storage rooms stocked with assorted meat, shabu-shabu items, beef and pork, chicken wings, siomai, assorted fish, pork belly, boneless pork, beef, and peking duck,” Pangilinan said.

Some of the products were found unfit for human consumption by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service, according to the senator.

The Bureau of Customs raided the warehouse on 31 May 2024, with a follow-up inspection by the Department of Agriculture on 14 June 2024.

Shi was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration on December 5 while attempting to leave the country.

Speaking through interpreter Carolyn Batay, he claimed he did not know the origins of the questionable items and suggested that another company using the warehouse also stored products there.

When asked repeatedly if he had contacts in the Bureau of Customs or anyone who assisted him in his business, Shi denied knowing anyone.

“I never had any contact with any government office or agency because I don’t know the language,” he said.

Senator Erwin Tulfo moved to cite Shi in contempt.

“I move to cite this person in contempt for continuously lying before this committee. Kanina pa po eh. Niloloko tayo. Wala siyang kakayahan, nag-negosyo siya dito isang Chinese, pero walang contact?” Tulfo asserted.

Tulfo warned him in the hearing not to lie so he will not meet the same fate as Bureau of Customs–Port of Subic Acting Chief of Assessment Juan San Andres, who is currently detained in the Senate detention facility.

Shi, identified as one of the lessees in Vigour Freezer and previously apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration for alleged involvement in smuggling, repeatedly claimed that since his arrival in the Philippines in 2017, he had not had any local contacts.

“Who did you talk to for your passport, or to move around the Philippines?” Tulfo asked.

“When I came here, I have no one to help me, no one to rely on,” Shi responded.

Pangilinan asked Shi to explain why he should not be cited in contempt. Shi offered a similar unsatisfactory response.

“I really don’t know anyone when I came here, so I cannot really say anything to say to you that what I am saying is the truth. I just came here with my knowledge that I would just want to do this kind of business, but I really don’t know anyone. Even if I want to do this business, I don’t have anyone to help me,” Shi told the senators.

Pangilinan found Shi's explanation “unsatisfactory” and cited him in contempt, transferring his custody to the Senate from the BI.

Powerful syndicate behind smuggling

In a press briefing shortly after the hearing, Pangilinan said the investigation indicates the involvement of a syndicate based in China collaborating with Filipino officials.

He added that the absence of charges over hundreds of millions of pesos’ worth of meat and fish seized since 2024 suggests protection from influential individuals.

Asked if certain government officials shield smugglers, Pangilinan affirmed the allegation but said he would withhold names while the investigation continues.

“We are precisely pursuing the investigation,” he said.