Manila: The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform on Tuesday concentrated efforts on identifying the financial backers behind large-scale agricultural smuggling while examining arrests, unserved warrants, and billions of pesos worth of imported farm goods tied to firms under investigation.

According to Philippines News Agency, committee chair Senator Francis Pangilinan highlighted that smuggling cases often mirror corruption scandals with accomplices across government, the private sector, and politics. He expressed skepticism about claims that companies involved in multi-billion-peso importations operated without financial backers, specifically mentioning PHP133 million worth of smuggled mackerel and onions and Atara Marketing Inc.'s billion-peso importations.

The hearing revisited privilege speeches by Senator Raffy Tulfo, examining the Rice Tariffication Law, and Pangilinan's discourse on the country's agricultural crises. Senator Erwin Tulfo expressed concerns over non-compliance with Senate summonses, noting the need for firm action in light of the alleged smuggling scale. The committee had issued various enforcement measures against individuals and entities linked to the investigation.

Pangilinan disclosed the arrest of Raiza Lumbang, corporate secretary of Atara Marketing Corporation, by the Philippine National Police in Lubao, Pampanga. Lumbang was granted provisional liberty under specific conditions, including continued attendance at hearings. The committee is investigating Lumbang's role in a firm that imported PHP7 billion worth of rice and paid PHP1.6 billion in taxes and duties, aiming to establish accountability.

Pangilinan noted ongoing coordination with law enforcement agencies to address unserved arrest warrants and emphasized the inquiry's focus on examining financial links, enforcement gaps, and accountability mechanisms related to agricultural smuggling, given its impact on food supply, farmers' incomes, and market stability.