Economic sabotage eyed vs smugglers of P50 million items
Duterte said he is bothered by the smuggling problem, describing it as “a continuing headache for the country, the economy and the people.”
“I’m going to categorize smuggling of items worth above P50 million as an act of economic sabotage. So if you are caught doing it, committing the crime or about to commit, or in fact committed the crime and you are apprehended somewhere, you will be arrested and detained to face trial,” the President said during the awarding of farmers and fishermen yesterday in Malacañang. “If it’s more than P50 million, no bail. So you rot in prison.”
He also chided vehicle importers who cheat on franchise applications.
“The importers of buses, they import all kinds of the same quality, weight and everything... Then he will apply for a franchise. After securing a franchise, they will duplicate the vehicle, same color and even the same engine, black number and everything, and they allow even three or four for one franchise,” he said.
“If the highway patrol, LTO (Land Transportation Office), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) or the police, you will go straight to prison,” he said.
Duterte said he would not allow those involved in the racket, locally known as “kambal” or twin, to remain outside prison while facing trial.
“I will charge you for economic sabotage and there will be no bail for you,” he said.
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