Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>— The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform cited in contempt a Chinese national allegedly involved in smuggling during the continuation of its inquiry into agri-smuggling on Wednesday. </p><p>Senators believed Shi Chaoqun was lying when he said that he had no contact—whether in government or not—who helped him facilitate the supposed smuggling.</p><p>Shi was a lessee of a warehouse owned by Vigour Global Logisitcs Corp. in Kawit, Cavite.</p><p>Citing reports, committee chairman Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, said the warehouse was converted into a cold storage facility to conceal about P100 million worth of frozen meat products that lacked necessary documents.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/20/chinese-syndicates-ph-officials-businessmen-collude-in-agri-smuggling-senator-1541"><strong>Chinese syndicates, PH officials, businessmen collude in agri smuggling: senator</strong></a></div><p>The Bureau of Customs (BOC) raided the warehouse on May 31, 2024 and conducted a follow-up inspection with the Department of Agriculture on June 14, 2024.</p><p>“The DA inspectorate and enforcement office showed that 10 cold storage facilities were found concealed behind a false wall obstructed by a van. Upon dismantling the false wall, the composite team uncovered cold storage rooms stocked with assorted meat, shabu-shabu items, beef and pork, chicken wings, siomai, assorted fish, pork belly, boneless pork, beef, and peking duck,” Pangilinan said.</p><p>He said the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service found some of the products unfit for human consumption.</p><p>The Bureau of Immigration arrested Shi last December 5 while he was trying to leave the country.</p><p>He said through interpreter Carolyn Batay that he did not know where the questionable items found in his warehouse came from since “not all the warehouses are mine and I only started, I only did this job or this business for three months.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/8/smuggled-agricultural-products-from-china-intercepted-in-subic-port-1536"><strong>Smuggled agricultural products from China intercepted in Subic Port</strong></a></div><p>He said that a company using the warehouse next to his <strong></strong>“also place their materials or their products in my warehouse ... but I don’t know where they got this.” </p><p>Shi was repeatedly asked if he knew anyone from the BOC or any friend who served as his handler or who helped him in his business, but he answered in the negative.</p><p>“I never had any contact with any government office or agency because I don’t know the language,” Shi said through the interpreter.</p><p>Sen. Erwin Tulfo moved to cite Shi in contempt, with the Chinese national responding: “I really don’t know anyone so I cannot say anything to convince you that what I’m saying is the truth.”</p><p>Pangilinan found Shi&#x27;s explanation &quot;unsatisfactory&quot; and cited him for contempt.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/boc-doj-meet-to-boost-efforts-vs-agri-smuggling-1918" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>BOC, DOJ meet to boost efforts vs agri-smuggling</strong></a></div><p>With the citation, custody over Shi will be transferred to the Senate from the BI.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROTECTORS? </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In a press conference after the hearing, Pangilinan said there are powerful people behind smuggling in the country, adding the lack of charges filed over hundred of millions of pesos in meat and fish seized since 2024 is proof of that.</p><p>He said he believes a syndicate based in China is behind the smuggling in collaboration with Filipino officials.</p><p>“And so we are still pursuing this investigation,” he added. </p><p>Asked if certain people in government protect smugglers, he answered in the affirmative but said he will keep the names confidential for now “because we are precisely pursuing the investigation.&quot; </p><p>Pangilinan pointed out that up to now, no smuggler has been imprisoned since the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act” became law in 2016.</p>

<p>The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform cited in contempt a Chinese national allegedly involved in smuggling during the continuation of its inquiry into agri-smuggling on Wednesday.</p>

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform cited in contempt a Chinese national allegedly involved in smuggling during the continuation of its inquiry into agri-smuggling on Wednesday.

Senate agri panel cites in contempt Chinese national allegedly involved in smuggling

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Senate agri panel cites in contempt Chinese national allegedly involved in smuggling

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 10, 2025 01:36 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 10, 2025 02:39 PM PHT

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Anti-smuggling

Kiko Pangilinan

Senate

Agriculture

Contempt

Chinese national

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