Consistent with the country’s 17th President and concurrent head of the Department of Agriculture, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr’s commitment to prioritize and boost the Philippines’ Agricultural sector, the Intelligence Division of the CIDG together with the representatives from the Department of Agriculture Inspectorate and Enforcement Unit (DAIEU) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) launched a law enforcement operation against illegal smuggling of imported fish products in the evening of May 26, 2023 at ICY Point Cold Storage and Processing Corporation, NO. 1485, Lapu-lapu Avenue, Navotas City, Metro Manila.
The CIDG Director PBGen Romeo M Caramat Jr said that the joint operation resulted in the arrest of ALMA VILLABRILLE ADEN (Cashier), 47, CHERYL SARAD ELIZALDE (Cashier), 38, and TITO MONARES YBAÑEZ JR (Delivery boy), 22, who were caught in the act of selling an imported fish product known as “PAMPANO” however upon verification, the suspects failed to show any pertinent documents authorizing them to sell said product.
Authorities found in their possession and control the following pieces of evidence:
– 3 pcs of Dusted One Thousand Peso
bills used as Buy-bust money;
– 10Kg (15 pcs) of frozen PAMPANO;
– Five (5) pcs 1/4 size blank receipt pad;
– One (1) pc 1/4 size OR receipt
corresponding date and numbers;
and
– Two (2) pcs 1/4 size Carbon paper.
“During the operation, nakita po ng ating mga kasama sa DAIEU at BPAR na mula sa loob ng cold storage room ang mga binebentang na produkto kaya agad na isinagawa ang inspeksyon at doon na nadiscover ang 714 boxes of assorted seafood products na may estimated market value na Php1, 420, 200.00,” the Director added.
Arrested persons were brought to AFCCU for temporary custody while criminal complaints for violation of RA 10845 (Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016) and RA 7394( Consumers Act of the Philippines) were being prepared against them. Likewise, the BFAR will issue a Show Cause Order for the owner to present legal documents pertaining to the discovered products.
Ang CIDG ay umaayon sa hangarin ng ating Presidente BBM na paunlarin ang sector pang-agrikultura sa pagpapataas ng industriya ng ating mga magbubukid at mangingisda. Masidhing naming ipapatupad ang batas laban sa mga ganitong ilegal na aktibidad na magdudulot ng pinsala sa ating ekonimiya. ###