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Dedicated Anti-Agri Smuggling Court Needed - Sen. Cynthia Villar
Senator Cynthia Villar. Senate PH File
Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, has pushed for the creation of an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court to effectively implement the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.
During the public hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights on proposed Senate Bill No. 1963 on May 2, 2023, Villar emphasized the need for a dedicated court to handle cases of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural products.
Despite the existence of laws against agricultural smuggling, no smugglers have been charged with economic sabotage. Villar believes that the establishment of an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court will ensure the proper implementation of the law. She hopes that those involved in the courts and the justice department will help draft a law to implement the Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.
The proposed Senate Bill No. 1963 seeks to establish Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Courts that will have jurisdiction over cases of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural products. These courts will be responsible for handling cases related to the violation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and other related laws.
Villar stressed the importance of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, as smuggling of agricultural products poses a significant threat to the country's food security and agricultural sector. Smuggling deprives local farmers of income and affects the prices of agricultural products in the market. It also undermines the efforts of the government to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
Villar hopes that the creation of an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court will be given priority by the government to address the problem of agricultural smuggling. She believes that this will send a strong message to smugglers that the government is serious in its efforts to combat agricultural smuggling and protect the country's food security.
During the public hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights on proposed Senate Bill No. 1963 on May 2, 2023, Villar emphasized the need for a dedicated court to handle cases of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural products.
Despite the existence of laws against agricultural smuggling, no smugglers have been charged with economic sabotage. Villar believes that the establishment of an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court will ensure the proper implementation of the law. She hopes that those involved in the courts and the justice department will help draft a law to implement the Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.
The proposed Senate Bill No. 1963 seeks to establish Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Courts that will have jurisdiction over cases of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural products. These courts will be responsible for handling cases related to the violation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act and other related laws.
Villar stressed the importance of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, as smuggling of agricultural products poses a significant threat to the country's food security and agricultural sector. Smuggling deprives local farmers of income and affects the prices of agricultural products in the market. It also undermines the efforts of the government to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
Villar hopes that the creation of an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court will be given priority by the government to address the problem of agricultural smuggling. She believes that this will send a strong message to smugglers that the government is serious in its efforts to combat agricultural smuggling and protect the country's food security.
May 3, 2023
