Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760942024331565089113_1362116595953693_983825842597228215_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Senate of the Philippines/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform on Monday cited three more people in contempt for allegedly lying during the continuation of its hearing on agricultural smuggling and the Rice Tariffication Law.</p><div><strong>These individuals are:</strong></div><p>• <u>Erwin Pascual,</u> owner of EPCB Consumer Goods Training</p><p>• <u>Andrew Calixihan</u>, Bureau of Customs Deputy Collector for Assessment, Port of Subic</p><p>• <u>Mary Anabelle Gubaton</u>, Bureau of Customs COO III, Port of Subic</p><div> </div><p>Pascual registered his business under his nephew Dexter Sonza Juala, a delivery food rider, supposedly in the hope of making him learn about brokering. </p><p>But committee chairperson Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan pointed out that Juala said he had never been involved in any meeting, negotiation or communication with brokers.</p><p>“In other words, Mr. Pascual is lying. He also admits to lending his license,” Pangilinan said. “For lying in this committee we are moving to cite Mr. Pascual in contempt.”</p><p>Sen. Bam Aquino seconded the motion.</p><p>Calixihan, meanwhile, was cited in contempt for allegedly lying about three trucks that transferred goods from the Port of Subic on the evening of June 27. The cargo was declared as chicken poppers but were actually onions and frozen mackerel.</p><div><a href="http://v">Smuggled agricultural products from China intercepted in Subic Port</a></div><p>“You have misled this committee with your testimony regarding the three vehicles, the trucks that were released. You have also been less than forthright in claiming that the Berches warehouse, was to be delivered in the Berches Warehouse but Berches, on record, says they don’t have any warehouse,” Pangilinan said.</p><p>Calixihan explained, “My function as deputy collector for assessment is only supervising the assessment division. Kumbaga sa isang office po one-third lang ang function ko. I cannot oversee everything kaya may mga instances po dito na hindi ko rin po ma-explain.”</p><p>Pangilinan argued that there is a difference between not being able to explain and giving untruthful testimony.  </p><p>Gubaton, on the other hand, was questioned for saying that underguarding was done for the three containers when the truck drivers testified that Customs released the containers without documentation.</p><p>“Isa lang yung na-underguard ko, which is yung nakapunta po sa Valenzuela,” Gubaton said.</p><p>Pangilinan replied, “They were saying none of them met any Customs official when they left.”</p><p>“We also asked you meron ba kayong kilalang Chugs? Dahil kayo ang pumipirma dito sa mga release at mga assessment sabi niyo wala. Pero klaro sa kanilang tatlo tinatawagan sila ni Chugs na may gate pass na ibinibigay ang Customs,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/boc-doj-meet-to-boost-efforts-vs-agri-smuggling-1918">BOC, DOJ meet to boost efforts vs agri-smuggling</a></div><p>Gubaton maintained that she does not know any Chugs.</p><p>Gubaton, Calixihan, and Pascual were ordered detained in the Senate. They were also told that they could submit supplemental affidavits.</p><p>Before the hearing ended, Pangilinan allowed Berches Consumer Goods Trading broker Brenda de Sagun to be temporarily released from detention to gather information regarding a certain Mr. Vicente who contracted them to import goods. De Sagun was previously cited in contempt.</p><p>Another hearing will be scheduled next week.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/15/-consignees-for-hire-tagged-in-agri-smuggling-1617">&#x27;Consignees for hire&#x27; tagged in agri-smuggling</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KSe9GOLMfaw?si=3gr0InSSDFkuqTyr" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

Senate agriculture panel cites 3 more in contempt for allegedly lying

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Senate agriculture panel cites 3 more in contempt for allegedly lying

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 20, 2025 03:05 PM PHT

Read More:

contempt

agricultural smuggling

francis pangilinan

committee on agriculture

bureau of customs

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