Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has called on President Aquino to prioritize the enactment of the bill declaring large-scale agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage.
Senate Bill No. 2923 or the Anti Large-Scale Agricultural Smuggling Act, principally sponsored by Villar as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, has hurdled Congress deliberations and now awaiting the President’s signature.
“For years, we have seen how the snail-paced prosecution of smugglers has hindered our campaign against smugglers. And because the charge is bailable, the wealthy smugglers were not intimidated,” Villar said.
“To ensure food security and stability, a law making agricultural smuggling a non-bailable offense of economic sabotage should be enacted. A mere slap on the wrist will never scare smugglers away,” she added.
