08-08-2025
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
