President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed swift and decisive action for violators and offenders in the agriculture sector through the enforcement of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
Republic Act No. (RA) 12022 creates an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group to dismantle smuggling operations and apprehend offenders, with a special team of prosecutors to expedite cases related to agricultural sabotage.
“We will enforce the law and ensure that swift and decisive action is taken against anyone who dares to sabotage our agricultural sector,” Marcos Jr. said during the ceremonial signing of RA 12022 on Thursday, Sept. 26.
“Together with that, we are also creating an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group, dedicated to dismantling smuggling operations and apprehending offenders,” he added.
The President also assured to quickly resolve cases by taking down “powerful forces” in the system.
“No longer will these cases gather dust. They will be prioritized and they will be resolved urgently. We will confront and dismantle the powerful forces that have long exploited our system for their own gain, ensuring that justice prevails, and the dignity of our agricultural sector is upheld,” said Marcos Jr.
“No more backdoors, no more shortcuts, and certainly no more turning a blind eye in Bagong Pilipinas,” he added.
The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act considers smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and engaging in cartels as forms of economic sabotage.
Other prohibited acts include financing agricultural economic sabotage, the use of government storage facilities by traders and other private businesses, and specified violations by members of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group.
Offenders will face life imprisonment and a fine five times the value of the confiscated agricultural and fishery products.IMT
