PBBM inspects, orders distribution of smuggled frozen mackerel

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspects an estimated PHPP178.5 million worth of confiscated frozen mackerel imported from China at the Manila International Container Terminal in Tondo, Manila on Saturday (Dec. 14, 2024). (Photo: RTVM via PNA)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday ordered the distribution of 21 containers of confiscated frozen mackerel from China, valued at PHP178.5 million, to evacuation centers, hospitals, care facilities, and prison facilities supervised by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Marcos issued the directive after his inspection of the estimated 580,000 kilos of smuggled frozen mackerel at Manila International Container Terminal in Tondo, Manila.

“Ibibigay natin ‘yun halimbawa sa mga evacuation center, doon sa mga ospital, ibibigay natin sa mga home natin, BuCor para naman hindi masayang (We will give it to those in evacuation centers, hospitals, homes and BuCor so that it would not go to waste),” he said.

“Meron namang inspection. Na-inspect na ito (There is an inspection. It has been inspected). [It’s] safe for human consumption. Kaya’t kung puwede pa, i-distribute na natin para naman hindi masayang at magamit naman ng ating mga kababayan (So, if possible, let’s distribute it so that it doesn’t go to waste and can be consumed by our countrymen),” Marcos added.

The donation was formalized through a Deed of Donation and Acceptance signed by Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Before the inspection of the smuggled frozen mackerel, Laurel and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian also signed a memorandum of understanding for the formal turnover of the 21 container vans of frozen mackerel to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Marcos said the confiscation of the smuggled frozen mackerel is “the first of many operations” to supervise the food supply.

“Ito na ‘yung pinaka-una na magiging kaso sa ilalim nung ating bagong Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act na bagong batas natin para patibayin ang sanction sa mga sumusubok na pumasok, na hindi nagbabayad ng duty. Bale smuggling (This will be the first case under our new Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act, which is our new law to strengthen sanctions against those who try to enter, without paying duty. It is smuggling),” he said.

“In-smuggle nila ‘yung mga agricultural goods. Sinisira ang merkado dito sa Pilipinas, pinagkikitaan ang tao. Wala namang bumabalik sa gobyerno at ‘yung dapat na ibayad sa gobyerno ay ibinubulsa lamang (They are smuggling agricultural goods. They are destroying the market here in the Philippines, making a living from people. Nothing is returned to the government and what should be paid to the government go to their pockets),” he added.

After inspecting the container vans, Marcos supervised the distribution of confiscated frozen mackerel to some 21,000 families in Barangay 649 at Baseco Port Area in Tondo.

Each household received two kilos of mackerel.

Some would also be donated to the poorest villages across Metro Manila’s 17 local government units, as well as one each in Bulacan and Cavite provinces.

An estimated 150,000 families are expected to benefit from the donation.

Other beneficiaries are those in city jails, public hospitals and various care facilities.

The shipment lacked the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance and was unclaimed by the consignee.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources conducted laboratory tests, confirming that the frozen mackerel are safe for human consumption.