Bill declares rice smuggling as an act of economic sabotage

A lady lawmaker has filed a bill declaring rice smuggling as an act of economic sabotage
punishable by heavy penalties.
Rep. Susan Yap (2
nd
District !arlac" said #ouse $ill %&'& to be known as the Anti(Rice
Smuggling Act of 2)*% shall penali+e any person found guilty of smuggling a minimum aggregate value
of ,* million worth of rice.
Yap said the increasing number of free trade agreements and the Revised -yoto ,rotocol stress
the need to refocus the role of the $ureau of .ustoms from trade regulation to trade facilitation.
/0ith this shift in the policy environment and with the impending implementation of the Asian
1conomic .ommunity by 2)*2 we must remain vigilant in ensuring food security against rice
smuggling3 Yap said.
Yap filed the bill as she cited newspaper reports of the rampant rice smuggling with some
smugglers e4ploiting farmers5 cooperatives by using their import 6uotas. /7nder this proposal the acts of
rice smuggling including technical smuggling are acts inimical to national interest economic growth
and development3 Yap said.
!he measure defines economic sabotage as an act which undermines weakens or renders into
disrepute the economic system or viability of the country or tends to bring about such effects.
Smuggling refers to the act of importing or bringing into the ,hilippines any article good or
product without the corresponding documents permits or licenses.
!echnical smuggling on the other hand pertains to misdeclaration misclassification or
undervaluation of imported goods or products in violation of the !ariff and .ustoms .ode of the
,hilippines and other related laws.
!he measure provides that the violators shall pay a fine e6ual to twice the fair value of the
smuggled rice e6ual to the aggregate amount of the ta4es8 duties and other charges avoided and also
possibly face life imprisonment. !he smuggled rice shall also be confiscated.
0hen the offender is a 9uridical person criminal liability shall attach to its president chief
operating officer or manager and their business permit and license may be revoked or cancelled.
!he broker of violating importers shall likewise be held liable and charged as principal.
Also under the measure when the offender is a government official or employee acting in
connivance with private individuals or entities or other government officials or employees he shall be
imposed the same penalty as the principal offender and be dis6ualified from holding any public office
whether by election or appointment.
!he $ureau of .ustoms in coordination with the appropriate agencies shall promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations for the effectivity of the proposed Act. (:)" jsc
NR # 3561B
AUG 17, 2014