Manila: A Senate panel on Wednesday cited Chinese national Shi Chaoqun in contempt after he repeatedly denied having local contacts despite evidence linking him to a PHP100-million meat smuggling operation. During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, Sen. Erwin Tulfo moved to cite Shi in contempt for 'continuously lying' under oath, noting that it was impossible for a foreign national with no contacts to navigate the country's business and logistics systems.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo expressed skepticism, highlighting the improbability of Shi's claims. "Niloloko tayo. Wala siyang kakayahan, nag-negosyo siya dito isang Chinese, pero walang contact (He's fooling us. He claims he has no capacity, yet he does business here without any contact)?" Tulfo remarked. Senators Francis Pangilinan and Raffy Tulfo also pressed Shi to identify who facilitated his operations.

Shi, who leases Freezer No. 8 at Vigour Global Freezer and was earlier apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration for attempting to leave the country, insisted through an interpreter that since arriving in 2017, he 'did not know anyone' in the Philippines and had 'no one to rely on.'

When questioned by Pangilinan, the panel chairperson, about why he should not be cited in contempt, Shi reiterated that he could not name any Philippine contacts because he had none. The committee, however, rejected this explanation as implausible.

Senators warned resource persons that dishonesty could lead to detention, citing the ongoing case of a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official currently held in the Senate. Tulfo then urged the Bureau of Immigration to coordinate with the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms to ensure Shi remains in the Senate detention facility rather than being returned to the BI's warden facility.

The contempt citation came as the Senate also scrutinized the BOC's handling of the warehouse raid involving Shi.