EDITORIAL - Porous

Crates of ammunition marked government property were not the only items unearthed by raiding teams sweeping the homes of the Ampatuan clan. High-powered weapons – the types that ordinary soldiers cannot hope to receive from the government – were also found in the numerous caches buried within or near the compounds of the Ampatuans.

Where did the weapons come from, and how did they enter the country? Surely not all of those weapons and ammunition came from the arsenal of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense, though most of the crates of ammunition bore “DND” markings. The awesome firepower built up by the Ampatuan clan shows the weakness of the government’s effort, if there is any, to stop smuggling.

Guns are not the only items smuggled by political warlords and businessmen with the right connections. From prohibited drugs to motorcycles and agricultural products, everything can be brought into this country illegally. Some goods pass through Customs ports, with shipping containers being waved through without even a perfunctory inspection by crooked personnel. Other items are delivered by ships directly to ports or coastal communities controlled by warlords, with Customs authorities unaware of the illegal shipments.

Legitimate businessmen have long complained to the government about the unfair competition posed by smugglers. Local farmers have also complained about the continuing flood of smuggled agricultural products. Though consumers enjoy the resulting low prices, smuggling throws market forces awry and endangers livelihood sources in agricultural communities.

Even smuggled dressed chicken and milk powder can be harmful to public safety. Serious problems arise from the smuggling of prohibited drugs and ingredients for manufacturing substances such as shabu. But the worst problems arise from the failure to control gun smuggling.

How the Ampatuans amassed their huge stockpile of weapons will be investigated by the Senate. But they are not the only ones with such arsenals. There are other warlords in this country, many of them allied with the administration, with their own private armies, all bristling with high-powered, sophisticated weaponry. When the Senate completes its probe of the source of the Ampatuans’ weaponry, it must come up with measures to improve the battle against smuggling.