Smuggling TF formed

CEBU, Philippines — Following the reported “hog smuggling” activities in southern Cebu, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued last Friday Executive Order (EO) Number 16 Series of 2024, which created the “Anti-Smuggling Inter-Agency Task Force” in the province.

This, as reports reached the Cebu provincial government that several undocumented livestock, such as hogs; goods; and other cargoes are smuggled in some parts in southern and western Cebu.

The governor invoked Section 16 of the Local Government Code in issuing the order, stating that creating the task force is needed "to facilitate and conduct monitoring activities to further deter the smuggling or illegal shipments of goods in the province.”

“Without the necessary permits and clearances from the concerned agencies of government, the shipped livestock, goods, and other cargoes pose a risk to the safety and security of the Cebuanos,” read a portion of the EO.

P/Capt. Eden Rex Baguio, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Public Information Office chief, said in a phone interview that concerned citizens reported to the Capitol that hogs from Negros Island are allegedly unloaded illegally in three barangays in Dumanjug town.

These barangays are Camboang, Bitoon, and Tangil and the illegal operations usually happen late at night until 3 a.m.

Baguio said that as of the moment, they can neither confirm as to how many hogs were smuggled nor determine how long the illegal activity has been ongoing in the town, since they have not yet received any report.

Yesterday, Garcia met with Police Regional Office-7 Director Anthony Aberin, CPPO Director Percival Zorrilla, and other officials to address the reports of hog smuggling, which allegedly involved local policemen.

Baguio told The Freeman that three police officers of the Dumanjug Police Station were already relieved from their posts due to allegations that policemen facilitated the smuggling of hogs from Negros Island to Dumanjug town.

He identified them as P/Capt. Kelvin Roy Mamaradlo, Damanjug chief of police; P/Lt. Heine Aspera, Dumanjug deputy chief of police; and P/Staff Sergeant Reynold Burlado, intelligence and personnel chief.

The three officers are now assigned to the Provincial Holding and Accounting Unit at the CPPO headquarters.

Meanwhile, Garcia expressed concern over the food safety risks posed by smuggled hogs, stressing that Cebu’s ongoing efforts to ensure that meat sold in markets is safe for public consumption.

“How can we be assured of the safety of these hogs if they have not been certified by the local [veterinarians] as well gone through the shippers, gone through the proper processes in securing permits from the DA?” she said in a report by Sugbo News, the Capitol’s official media arm.

“We may probably say that, ‘Ah, this is just about pigs.’ But it goes deeper than that. Why? Because this — yes, food safety, loss of income, and worse, this involves graft and corruption among the uniformed personnel themselves — and that takes away my trust from our PNP,” she added.

The governor urged police officials to increase visibility in affected areas, closely monitor the southwestern Cebu ports, and set up checkpoints to combat the smuggling activities.

“Kayo ang pinakamalaki and you have this presence in all of our LGUs. It could just be emphasized first to the chiefs of police that we mean business, na talagang totohanin iyong inspection. Eh, mahihirapan talaga yung mga di gumagawa nang tama, so I'm really counting on the PNP personnel,” she told Aberin and his subordinate officers.

Aberin, as PRO-7 director, leads the newly-created “Anti-Smuggling Inter-Agency Task Force”, with Commodore Florante Gagua of the Philippine Navy; Commodore Weniel Azcuna of the Philippine Coast Guard; and P/Brig. Gen. Jonathan Cabal of the Maritime Police, as his vice chairpersons.

The task force count as members the heads or representatives of the identified concerned agencies, such as the Cebu Port Authority general manager; Department of Agriculture-7 regional director; Maritime Industry Authority-7 regional director; League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Cebu Chapter president; Provincial Veterinarian Office department head; and the mayors of the towns of Alcantara, Alegria, Badian, Barili, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Moalboal, Samboan, Ronda, and Santander.

Among the tasks of the task force is to collaborate with the barangays and all concerned barangay captains and the Bantay Dagat personnel assigned in the jurisdiction of the said municipalities.

They are required to coordinate and report with the task force “any and all smuggling hogs and/or illegal shipments of livestock, goods, and other cargo within its territorial jurisdiction.”

“Failure of the concerned officials to apprehend or report the above-mentioned activities will constitute neglect of duties, which will be dealt with accordingly,” further read the EO.

Baguio said CPPO has already directed police officials to closely monitor the localities near Dumanjug, particularly those in Negros Island, for the possible illegal unloading of goods.

He said police officials were also advised to implement checkpoints seriously and closely monitor the province's ports.

“At least nga na-aware lang pod, dili lang pod ni siguro sa usa ka lugar, siguro nahitabo sad ni sa uban nga naa gyud diay ni siya ang illegal transport sa mga hogs,” he said.

Baguio emphasized the importance of public vigilance and encouraged residents to report any suspected illegal activities in their areas, noting that such information is crucial for law enforcement awareness and response.

Aside from the EO creating the task force, the governor also issued Memorandum No. 36-2024, urging the above-mentioned mayors of the 11 southern Cebu municipalities to establish effective tomorrow local task groups to combat the smuggling of livestock, goods, and other cargoes via Cebu's shorelines and ports.

“In order to further deter such illegal activities, you are hereby requested to issue an Executive Order creating your respective Task Forces to exercise the same duties and responsibilities under Executive Order No. 16,” read the memorandum. (CEBU NEWS)