BOC, DA seize more smuggled frozen mackerel
BOC spokesperson Vincent Philip Maronilla said that the frozen mackerel was misdeclared as various processed foods.
'Mga misdeclared po ito na agricultural products. Minisdeclare po sila na iba't-ibang processed food, pero ang laman po talaga ay mga frozen mackerel na walang mga permits at hindi pinayagan i-angkat ng Department of Agriculture,' said Maronilla in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
(These are misdeclared agricultural products. They were declared as various processed foods, but they actually contained frozen mackerel without the necessary permits and were not allowed for import by the Department of Agriculture.)
However, the Customs official did not mention the amount or value of the seized frozen fish earlier in the day.
The BOC added that it has already filed charges against the consignee and other people behind the smuggled goods.
'Natukoy na namin yung mga consignees, mayroon na din kamin na-file na kaso sa Department of Justice laban sa consignee, sa broker, at sa iba pang mga na-identify namin na naging involved sa pagpaparating ng mga isda na ito na walang permit,' said Maronilla.
(We have already identified the consignees, and we've filed a case with the Department of Justice against the consignee, the broker, and other individuals we've identified as being involved in bringing in these fish without permits.)
The BOC earlier seized container vans loaded with frozen fish at the Ports of Manila and Subic. There are 19 container vans loaded with frozen fish that are currently held at the Port of Manila, while five others were seized at the Port of Subic, the DA said in a statement.
Each container carries approximately 30 metric tons of frozen fish or equivalent to around 720 metric tons or 720,000 kilos, the Agriculture department added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that these seized frozen fish can be donated to families who are in need instead after they were proven safe for human consumption.
'President Marcos wants these smuggled fish turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development so they end up on the plates of suffering Filipinos who need them the most,' Secretary Tiu Laurel said in a statement.
The BOC said that the latest batch of smuggled frozen mackerel has yet to be tested to determine if it can be safely consumed by humans.
'Ipapa-test namin sa Department of Agriculture, titignan po kung ano yung fitness niya for human consumption. If it is declared fit for human consumption, we will let the Department of Agriculture determine the manner of its disposition,' said Maronilla.
(We will have the Department of Agriculture test it to see if they are fit for human consumption. If it's declared safe to eat, we'll let the Department of Agriculture determine how it should be disposed of.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
38 alleged human trafficking victims rescued, 3 suspects nabbed in Zamboanga City
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said 38 Filipinos were rescued and three suspected illegal recruiters were arrested in an operation in Zamboanga City over the weekend. In a press briefing, PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III said authorities on August 9 intercepted ML J-Sayang which was heading to Taganak Island, Tawi-Tawi. 'Nailigtas ang 38 na individual—22 kababaihang nasa hustong taong gulang, dalawang menor na edad na babae, 12 na kalalakihang nasa hustong taong gulang, at dalawang menor na lalaki,' Torre said. (We rescued 38 individuals—22 adult women, two underage girls, 12 adult men, and two underage boys.) These individuals, who came from different areas across the country, are now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Three suspected illegal recruiters were arrested in the operation, coming from Antipolo City, Northern Samar, and Zamboanga City. According to Torre, authorities believed that the rescued individuals were going to be transported through the 'backdoor' route to Sabah, Malaysia. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
11 Pinoy gym workers in Netherlands file labor abuse case vs employer
Eleven Filipino workers of a fitness center in Netherlands have filed a case against their Dutch employer over alleged labor violations, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague said. The Filipinos, who were employed as cleaners for the Saints and Stars gym in Amsterdam, filed a joint complaint with their Indonesian co-workers before the Netherlands Labor Authority, citing harsh working conditions. "They are also being assisted by pro bono Dutch lawyers in said labor case, and in the planned filing of criminal charges against the owners and managers of the gym company," an embassy statement on Aug. 9 said. Philippine diplomats have been in touch with the victims since July when they sought their assistance, the embassy said. The Filipinos, who were provided temporary shelter in Amsterdam by the embassy, told Dutch and Philippine authorities that they were made to work 17 hours daily without beds and heating at the company's various gym branches from May to June 2025. Due to privacy regulations, the names of the Filipinos cannot be disclosed at this time, the embassy said, but assured that they are in safe condition. "The embassy asistance-to-nationals team are in constant communication with them while investigation against their former employer is being conducted," it said. On July 24, the accountant of the gym was arrested by Dutch authorities for suspected forgery of documents, the embassy said, adding the Saints and Stars is not among the list of accredited foreign agencies of the Department of Migrant Workers Affairs in Manila for Filipinos seeking work contracts abroad. Philippine officials in Netherlands assured it will "continue to liaise and work with the Netherlands Labour Authority and other Dutch authorities, monitor the progress of the investigation and filed cases, ensure that the complaints are fully addressed, and accountabilities responded to." "The Philippine embassy is committed to ensuring the welfare and protection of the rights of Filipinos in the Netherlands, and extends assistance to them regardless of status," it said. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
BOC, DA seize more smuggled frozen mackerel
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) seized another batch of smuggled frozen mackerel on Friday. BOC spokesperson Vincent Philip Maronilla said that the frozen mackerel was misdeclared as various processed foods. 'Mga misdeclared po ito na agricultural products. Minisdeclare po sila na iba't-ibang processed food, pero ang laman po talaga ay mga frozen mackerel na walang mga permits at hindi pinayagan i-angkat ng Department of Agriculture,' said Maronilla in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (These are misdeclared agricultural products. They were declared as various processed foods, but they actually contained frozen mackerel without the necessary permits and were not allowed for import by the Department of Agriculture.) However, the Customs official did not mention the amount or value of the seized frozen fish earlier in the day. The BOC added that it has already filed charges against the consignee and other people behind the smuggled goods. 'Natukoy na namin yung mga consignees, mayroon na din kamin na-file na kaso sa Department of Justice laban sa consignee, sa broker, at sa iba pang mga na-identify namin na naging involved sa pagpaparating ng mga isda na ito na walang permit,' said Maronilla. (We have already identified the consignees, and we've filed a case with the Department of Justice against the consignee, the broker, and other individuals we've identified as being involved in bringing in these fish without permits.) The BOC earlier seized container vans loaded with frozen fish at the Ports of Manila and Subic. There are 19 container vans loaded with frozen fish that are currently held at the Port of Manila, while five others were seized at the Port of Subic, the DA said in a statement. Each container carries approximately 30 metric tons of frozen fish or equivalent to around 720 metric tons or 720,000 kilos, the Agriculture department added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that these seized frozen fish can be donated to families who are in need instead after they were proven safe for human consumption. 'President Marcos wants these smuggled fish turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development so they end up on the plates of suffering Filipinos who need them the most,' Secretary Tiu Laurel said in a statement. The BOC said that the latest batch of smuggled frozen mackerel has yet to be tested to determine if it can be safely consumed by humans. 'Ipapa-test namin sa Department of Agriculture, titignan po kung ano yung fitness niya for human consumption. If it is declared fit for human consumption, we will let the Department of Agriculture determine the manner of its disposition,' said Maronilla. (We will have the Department of Agriculture test it to see if they are fit for human consumption. If it's declared safe to eat, we'll let the Department of Agriculture determine how it should be disposed of.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
