DA files raps over P20.8 million smuggled vegetables

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), has filed a complaint against an importer amid its alleged involvement in the smuggling of P20.8 million worth of carrots and white onions at the Port of Subic.

Charges were filed against Betron Consumer Goods Trading and its owner Ronnel Manalang before the Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Food Safety Act and the 1978 Plant Quarantine Law, according to the DA.

In August last year, five shipping containers declared as frozen fish egg balls were found, upon inspection, to contain 56,998 kilos of carrots and 85,626 kilos of yellow onions, valued at approximately P20.8 million.

In her affidavit, Subic Port’s National Plant Quarantine Services Division area manager Carmela Rivera said the misdeclared agricultural goods were confiscated immediately to safeguard public health.

Rivera added that further analysis revealed traces of E. coli and unregistered pesticide residues in the seized produce.

The BPI said that a show-cause order was issued to Betron and Manalang, but was ignored, prompting the agency to escalate the case.

The DA said the case highlights deliberate misdeclaration and fraudulent documentation, which not only endangered public health, but also defrauded the government.