KIKO: SBMA OFFICIALS CANNOT INVOKE RULES AS AN
EXCUSE TO ALLOW SMUGGLED GOODS INTO THE COUNTRY

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan blasts Subic Bay Freeport officials on Wednesday's Senate hearing on smuggling, as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) insists that they cannot drive away those wanting to dock on their harbor because "it is the nature of [their] business."

In today's investigation on smuggling at the Philippine Senate, SBMA officials justified their unloading of 420,000 sacks of rice illegally imported from India by saying that they are allowed to do so according to their rules.

"Hindi naman pwedeng bukas para sa lahat ng bagay ang anumang pier natin, na kahit mga iligal na imports ay papayagan na nating makalusot," Pangilinan says. "Lumalabas din na hindi nag-uusap ang mga opisyal ng SBMA at tila iba-iba ang sinasabi nila. May mga nagsasabi na pinayagang ma-unload dahil pino-proseso ng importer ang permit mula sa NFA, may nagsasabi naman na opisyal din na lumapit sa importer pwede nang i-warehouse ang mga pumasok na bigas."

The lawmaker stresses, "Parang labu-labo ang sistema nila. Hindi pupuwede ito. Kung ganito ang nangyayari sa lahat ng freeports natin, ay 'di kataka-taka na maraming nakakapuslit na smuggled goods sa atin."