Lacson hits farm official ‘recycling’ in pork import mess

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday criticized the reassignment of a senior agricultural official who had been implicated in alleged corruption in meat imports that opened the floodgates for the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

Lacson said Ronnie Domingo, former head of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), was transferred to the Philippines’ Carabao Center in January despite having issued permits to import pork from countries affected by African swine fever.

“Considering such violations involving Domingo, will we allow the practice that when someone is involved in a controversy, they are simply transferred to another agency? What is clear is that the former director of BAI was involved in violations until September 2020, ”he said.

“While I cannot say at this time whether Domingo’s transfer is related to the issuance of illegal permits, the impact [of his decisions] We have an ASF problem due to the importation of pork from prohibited countries, ”said the senator.

Lacson made the statement while defending Senate Resolution No. 685, which establishes a committee for the entire Senate investigation of a fraud by an alleged union at the Department of Agriculture (DA) that said it had been charging a P5 to P7 “. tongpats ”or bribe for every kilo of imported pork.

But in a telephone interview with The Inquirer, Domingo denied having granted import permits for pork from countries affected by African swine fever.

‘It floated just now’

“I don’t know what Senator Lacson is talking about. These accusations floated just now. I have no knowledge, ”he said.

He said part of BAI’s mandate was to ban the entry of pork and derived products from countries with animal diseases that could endanger local agricultural industries.

“These are documented orders that must be followed,” he said.

He said his reassignment to the Philippines Carabao Center was part of streamlining efforts to allow for “continuous, more efficient and effective public service” as instructed by Secretary of Agriculture William Dar.

“He told us that the reassignments were to empower livestock officials because when they reassign you, there is pressure to do the best you can in your new assignment,” said Domingo.

Domingo was appointed the officer in charge of BAI in 2017. After two years, he said he tendered his courtesy resignation when Dar took over as chief of agriculture.

“After 70 days he called me and installed me again as an OIC. I was also supported by the Malacañang secretary, ”he said.

‘Ruthless, insatiable’

Lacson previously said that union members could raise P6 billion a year once a recommendation to increase the minimum access volume (MAV) is raised while the country is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and ASF.

“They are ruthless. That’s the really disgusting thing. They are insatiable, ”he said.

Lacson said it was the union that had been pushing to lower tariff rates on imported meat and the proposed increase in the MAV for imported pork, from 54,000 metric tons to 404,000 MT.

Under the proposals, the DA recommended that under the MAV, a 5 percent tariff be imposed on pork imports for the next six months and 10 percent for the next six months from the current rate of 30 percent.

For imports outside the MAV, the DA suggested that tariffs be lowered to 15 percent over the next six months and 20 percent in the next six months from 40 percent today.

The proposals were sent to Malacañang in late January for the president’s approval. “Our pig farmers are asking for help, about 80,000 of them.

The local pig farming industry is worth P230 billion a year. It will die if the local market is flooded with imported pork and pork products, and worse still, imported from countries with existing prohibitions due to African swine fever, ”he said.

Investigation panel formed In response to Lacson’s allegations, Dar formed a special committee Wednesday to investigate the matter, though an industry group was skeptical that it would yield unbiased results.

He said he gave the commission until the end of the month to present the results of its investigation.

He also said that he could attest to the honesty and integrity of those involved in the investigation, which is headed by the chief of legal services of the Prosecutor’s Office, Armando Crobalde Jr., Dar said that while the Prosecutor’s Office held that MAV assignments were “Frank and nondiscretionary,” I would still examine the reports of a payment plan involving officials.

An initial report prepared by the head of the DA-MAV Secretariat, Jane Bacayo, described Lacson’s accusation as “remote,” noting that those who were issued MAV import certificates “are the same every year, and that were previously accredited by previous DA administrations “.

Bacayo added that there have been no disparities between MAV’s current allocations and those awarded prior to Dar’s term.

Reservations

But the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) expressed reservations about the possible outcome of DA’s investigation.

Sinag’s boss, Rosendo So, told the Inquirer that an impartial investigation under the district attorney was unlikely to take place because those involved in the investigation may also be the same people behind the alleged plan.

Sinag and other groups have lobbied both houses of Congress to investigate the fraud.

The Senate had passed a resolution urging the president to reject the DA’s recommendation, warning that flooding the country with imported pork would “kill” the local pork industry.

According to Lacson, the DA can help local pig farmers by providing an indemnity fund and similar aid, rather than importing large volumes of pork.

Citing information from undisclosed sources, Lacson said the meat import violations continued under Domingo’s watch as the BAI and the National Meat Inspection Service controlled decisions in the DA’s MAV management committee.

He said he had been informed that there had been pressure to expand the MAV and questioned the prosecutor’s recommendation to increase imports to the detriment of local pig farmers.

“Without questioning the personal integrity of Attorney General William Dar, we want to know if he was aware of the situation,” he said.

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