Marilyn Cahatol

Workers transport fresh drops of vegetables in Divisoria market in Manila on January 20, 2022. Preliminary results of the Asian Development Bank’s COVID-19 Country Assessment report shows the Philippines lagging its neighbors in a return to pre-pandemic growth rates with long-term effects of the pandemic on employment being a key concern. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN New

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175792150856620220120-covid-economy-manila-GC-1516.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers transport fresh drops of vegetables in Divisoria market in Manila on January 20, 2022. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/file </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Consignees for hire continue to be a problem in the fight against smuggling as revealed in the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform.</p><p>During Monday’s inquiry, Berches Consumer Goods Trading owner Jovelyn Berches Daria said her license was rented by a certain Mr. Vicente, with her broker, Brenda Sagun mediating.</p><p>“Yung broker kausap ng nag-i-import. May sinasabi silang in-buyer. Nangongomisyon lang kami,” said Daria.</p><p>“Parang flood control din pala. Ibig sabihin hindi kayo talaga ang nagbabayad hindi kayo ang nag-i-import?” Committee Chair Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan asked.</p><p>“Hindi po,” answered Daria.</p><p>According to Sagun, however, she does not personally know Mr. Vicente and is no longer able to contact him.</p><p>Documents from the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed Berches imported 19 containers which were declared to contain chicken lollipops and chicken poppers, but were discovered to have fresh carrots, red onions, and white onions.  </p><p>The content of the 19 containers, according to DA Undersecretary Carlos Carag amounts to more than P59 million.</p><p>Daria said she only received P500 per container or P9,000 total from renting out her license.</p><div> </div><div><strong>BROKERS  </strong></div><p>Also invited to the hearing was 1024 Consumer Goods Trading owner Merlin Jacinto whose business supposedly imported 10 containers which were found to be in violation, according to Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.</p><p>The goods declared were chicken poppers and chicken lollipops but upon inspection, the containers were found to contain frozen mackerel and round scads.</p><p>Jacinto testified that he did not have any hand in the said importation and he already closed down his business.</p><p>“Kasi 2024 expired na ang registration ko sa Customs and closed na office,” Jacinto said.</p><p>“Obviously dummy si 1024,” Pangilinan stated.</p><p>Despite 1024 being closed, broker Lujin Arm Tenero admitted to signing Single Administrative Documents (SAD) in order to import four containers.</p><p>He said he was approached by a certain “Carlos” whom he met in a hangout outside the pier.</p><p>Tenero said he did not know Carlos&#x27; last name.</p><p>Pangilinan questioned this.</p><p>“Walang last name, nakilala mo lang sa harap ng pier, pinapirma sayo document na mag-i-import. Puwede ba naman yun?” the senator said.</p><p>“Araw-araw naman kami nagkikita. Ngayon di ko na nakikita, hinahanap ko,” Tenero replied.</p><p>The cost of the goods found in the four containers imported with the help of Tenero is more than P68 million, said the DA.</p><p>Queenstar Industry Consumer Trading owner Mark Anthony Baclig also denied being involved in smuggling after being flagged for allegedly importing three containers with agricultural products amounting to almost P20 million.</p><p>“Wala akong authorization or consent diyan,” Baclig remarked.  </p><p>Queenstar’s broker Judy Ann Gumban-Jungco said she signed SADs for three entries under Queenstar.</p><p>She said a certain Jo Reyes called her to facilitate the import and was paid P1,000 per entry.</p><p>“Sa pier magkakakilala lang kami,” Gumban-Jungco said.</p><p>She also admitted to signing SADs for other brokers.</p><p>“Clearly, may hocus pocus na nangyayari pareho kayong Berches pero hindi kayo nag-uusap ngayon lang kayo nagkakilala. Ganundin sa 1024 expired na kayo pero itong si broker na si Lujin ay pumirma on behalf of 1024 bilang broker. At ito namang si Judy Ann ng Queenstar ganundin hindi kilala si Mark Anthongy Baclig na may-ari pero may lumapit sa’yo na pumirma ng tatlong halaga na 20 million,” Pangilinan stated.</p><p>Senator Erwin Tulfo blasted the brokers and consignees.</p><p>“You have moral and social obligation in this country na hindi puwedeng pumasok ang mga kontrabando. It’s considered contraband. Pero what if it is drugs, what if it is bomba? You have responsibility,” Tulfo pointed out.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/20/senator-eyes-probe-on-firms-brokers-allegedly-linked-to-smuggled-agri-products-1511">Companies, customs brokers allegedly linked to smuggled agri products to be called to Senate hearing</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>UNUSUAL ACTION</strong></div><p>The committee also looked into possibly smuggled goods inside 11 containers intercepted as they were being transported from the Port of Subic.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/8/smuggled-agricultural-products-from-china-intercepted-in-subic-port-1536">Smuggled agricultural products from China intercepted in Subic Port</a></div><p>Carag said their personnel got wind of the import and followed the convoy. They were only able to tail three containers, however, when the vehicles separated.</p><p>The three were headed to Angat, Bulacan, but were later brought back to the port. The other eight were also brought back after coordination.</p><p>Andrew Calixihan, BOC Deputy Collector for Assessment of the Port of Subic, said the containers were being escorted by Customs Police to the warehouse of Berches and 1024 because the Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation does not have a warehouse.</p><p>“Para safe ang cargo is doon sa consignee’s warehouse examinin na. If we found out na may discrepancy, ibabalik sa Port of Subic. Kaya naibalik din containers,” Calixihan said.</p><p>But according to Carag, their personnel who followed the three trucks said the BOC personnel who accompanied these eventually left. </p><p>“Sa Angat nag-aantay saang cold storage dadalhin, from our investigation and report of our personnel, iniwan na lang ng mga tao ng Customs yung tatlong container doon. Ang naiwan doon tao ng DA-IE and yung truck drivers ng tatlong container,” Carag said.</p><p>“DI ko rin po alam kung bakit iniwan,” Calixihan said. “Covered po yan with mission order na continuous underguarding hanggang ma-reach niya yung consignees warehouse supposed to be doon gagawin yung 100% examination na if ever po mag-positive po yung alert ng DA, i-aano po lahat sa Port of Subic yung mga containers.”</p><p>Nepomuceno said the action of the BOC personnel was unusual.</p><p>“Supposed to be the underground mission order would require BOC personnel to finish the job and fully expecting what really was inside the containers,” Nepomuceno remarked.</p><p>“It is not allowed for a container to not be brought to its final destination,” Carag added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/19/agri-dept-finds-smuggled-onions-during-manila-market-inspection-1025">Agri dept finds &#x27;smuggled&#x27; onions during Manila market inspection</a></div><p>EPCB Consumer Goods Trading registered owner, Dexter Juala, said he is not the real owner of the business.</p><p>Juala is a food delivery rider who said his uncle, Erwin Pascual, is the real owner and only used his name.</p><p>Pascual was subpoenaed to the next hearing.</p><p>According to DA, EPCB imported 14 containers.</p><p>Pangilinan denounced the alleged syndicate behind smuggling.</p><p>“May kamadang sindikato sa smuggling operations na ito,” Pangilinan said.</p><p>“Tulad ng sa corruption sa flood control projects, bilyon-bilyon din ang ninanakaw sa bayan dahil sa smuggling,” he added. “Trilyong halaga na ang nakumpiska natin na smuggled (goods), walang mga lisensya, wala pa tayong nakukulong. Mahiya naman tayong lahat.”</p><p>Nepomuceno said one way of fighting this is to digitalize their processes.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/26/marcos-jr-signs-new-law-classifying-smuggling-as-economic-sabotage-1700">Marcos Jr. signs new law classifying agri smuggling as economic sabotage</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_noxMn5vtRE?si=Q7dGTJRu0Ut4Ze1l" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Consignees for hire continue to be a problem in the fight against smuggling as revealed in the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform.</p>

Consignees for hire continue to be a problem in the fight against smuggling as revealed in the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform.

'Consignees for hire' tagged in agri-smuggling

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'Consignees for hire' tagged in agri-smuggling

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 15, 2025 04:17 PM PHT

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consignees for hire

kiko pangilinan

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