AN official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said the crackdown on online sellers of smuggled white onions has started amid the proliferation of illegally sourced bulbs on the internet.
In a radio interview, Agriculture deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said that online retailers will be charged together with the source of the white onions.
'We have the monitoring group tasked to go after the online sellers. If they are arrested for selling white onions, they will be charged together with the smugglers. They are accomplices since they possess the evidence,' Estoperez said.
He added that the result of the phytosanitary tests on the seized 100,000 kilos of white onions should warn consumers that the smuggled bulbs are unfit for human consumption.
'The smuggled white onions were tested positive for chemical residue and E. coli, similar to the results of the tests in Boracay, causing its temporary closure. That's why we are reminding our consumers not to buy online,' Estoperez said.
According to Estoperez, all the stocks of white onions in the local market are smuggled since the DA did not issue import permits.
He called on local government units to help in the campaign against online sellers of white onions, saying the LGUs have the resources to go after retailers of the illegally sourced bulbs.
'The functions of the DA were already devolved to the local government units. We hope that the LGUs will be our partner in monitoring the illegal sale of white onions,' Estoperez said.
He added that the DA, together with the farmers' groups led by the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), will file charges against the smugglers.
'We will file charges to serve as a warning to those involved in the smuggling who did not stop their illegal activities despite the fact that the President is also the head of the DA,' the official added.
Estoperez also backed the statement of Sinag President Rosendo So that there are at least 15 to 20 new individuals involved in the smuggling activities in the country.
He downplayed fears that the confiscated smuggled onions will be recycled, saying the operation against illegally sourced bulbs involves various government agencies.
'Conspiracy will not happen since aside from the DA, the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Plant Industry and the civil society groups are involved in the campaign,' Estoperez added.
On the other hand, Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban issued Department Order 23 defining the role of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement James Layug as part of the government's campaign against smuggling of agricultural products.
Under Department Order 23, Layug will lead the DA's efforts against agricultural smuggling, investigate regulatory and policy violations, and assist in law enforcement and prosecution of cases.
Layug is empowered to conduct intelligence operations on illegal activities that impede agricultural development and violate regulatory policies that negatively impact the national economy.
He is also tasked to conduct document tracking, commodity monitoring, and field inspection to deter profiteering, price manipulation and hoarding.
'The Assistant Secretary for DA Inspectorate and Enforcement shall be under the general supervision of the Office of the Secretary,' Panganiban said in his Department Order 23.