New DA chief: Major onion smuggler arrested in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged large-scale onion smuggler was arrested in Batangas recently, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced yesterday.

Laurel said that Jayson de Roxas Taculog was apprehended by police operatives on Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Edilu Hayag.

No bail was recommended.

“Taculog’s arrest is just the beginning. With help from the police, the courts, and local government units, the Department of Agriculture will continue to run after smugglers and economic saboteurs,” Laurel said.

According to Laurel, the arrest of Taculog was done after the confiscation of P78.9 million worth of illegally imported agricultural goods consigned to Taculog J International Consumer Goods Trading during separate operations at the Manila International Container Port from December 2022 to January 2023.

Taculog was arrested for using fictitious import permits and shipping documents, Laurel added.

He said that if found guilty, Taculog faces life imprisonment and a fine twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural products and the aggregate amount of taxes he avoided paying.

“Smugglers and hoarders are destroying not just the livelihood of our farmers. They are exploiting Filipino consumers with high food prices,” Laurel said.

Taculog’s arrest was a product of “coordination among key government agencies, as well as the prompt actions of the BOC,” according to BOC Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy.

“His arrest showed the commitment of the Marcos administration to go after these big-time agricultural smugglers,” said BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.

Persons found guilty of “smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of agricultural and fishery products” would be penalized with “life imprisonment and a fine thrice the value of the agricultural and fishery products involved,” the agency said.

SDO terminated

Meanwhile, Laurel has terminated the contract of the special disbursing officer (SDO) assigned at the Office of the Secretary as he designated his newly appointed chief of staff to replace the employee.

Laurel issued Special Order 1393 on the termination of the designation of Rheeda Cabrera as SDO of the Office of the Secretary.

At the same time, Laurel issued Special Order 1377 appointing lawyer Alvin John Balagbag as special disbursing officer for the Office of the Secretary where he was authorized to handle the petty cash fund of P120,000.

Laurel appointed Balagbag as head executive assistant and chief of staff, replacing Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez.

“The order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force unless revoked in writing. All orders inconsistent herewith are deemed revoked,” he added. Laurel has started implementing reorganization at the DA after his appointment on Nov. 3.