Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Honorable Representatives 
ARLENE D. BROSAS (Gabriela Women’s Party), 
FRANCE L. CASTRO (ACT Teachers Partylist),  
and RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL (Kabataan Partylist) 
AN ACT DECLARING LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING AS 
ECONOMIC SABOTAGE, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFORE 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There is a need to strengthen Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling 
Act, as the law clearly lacks teeth in curbing rampant agricultural smuggling over the years. Aside 
from agricultural smuggling, horrid acts, including hoarding, profiteering, cartel, and other market 
abuses, must be declared as punishable acts.  
No one is having a day in court, and worse, the ring leaders behind such barbaric acts can 
continue with their businesses and operations. Local farmers, food producers and agricultural 
stakeholders have suffered enough. We must apprehend and punish the masterminds and the 
entire network of organized mafia within the agriculture industry.  
The State, especially the Department of Agriculture (DA), must also realize that such crimes of 
agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel have spawned from the state policy of 
unabated importation and liberalization.  
In the past four (4) years of the Rice Liberalization Law, local rice farmers have lost PhP261 billion 
in income due to the influx of rice imports. In 2021, at the height of increasing pork prices, the 
government approved executive orders allowing the importation of an additional 250,000 MT of 
pork products. Recent sugar orders issued by the DA and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) 
resulted in unlimited importation of sugar - 440,000 MT in 2022 and an additional 150,000 MT for 
this year. The DA even sold the smuggled sugar seized by the Bureau of Customs in ports.  
The recent exposés regarding the possible hoarding and price manipulation of onions have led to 
outrageously priced onions in markets, and the series of sugar importation mess resulting from 
Sugar Orders issued by the SRA are just the tip of the iceberg. We must leave no stone unturned 
May 29, 2023
5:17 pm
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in this battle against smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel operations in the agriculture 
industry.   
This proposed measure included the crime of large-scale agricultural smuggling, hoarding, 
profiteering, and cartel of rice and beef as economic sabotage. Furthermore, we propose to lower 
the threshold for rice from PhP10,000,000.00 to PhP1,000,000.00.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
ARLENE D. BROSAS 
Gabriela Women’s Party 
 
 
 
 
 
FRANCE L. CASTRO 
 
 
 
 
RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL 
Act Teachers Partylist 
 
 
 
 
 
Kabataan Partylist 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Honorable Representatives 
ARLENE D. BROSAS (Gabriela Women’s Party), 
FRANCE L. CASTRO (ACT Teachers Partylist),  
and RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL (Kabataan Partylist) 
AN ACT DECLARING LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING AS 
ECONOMIC SABOTAGE, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFORE 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. The title of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"AN ACT DECLARING LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING, HOARDING, 
PROFITEERING, CARTEL, AND OTHER ACTS OF MARKET ABUSES AS 
ECONOMIC SABOTAGE, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFORE AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES” 
SECTION 2. Sec. 1 of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. – This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Agricultural 
[Smuggling] ECONOMIC SABOTAGE Act of 2023"." 
SECTION 3. Sec. 2 of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote that productivity of 
the agriculture sector and to protect farmers from unscrupulous traders and importers, 
who by their illegal importation of agricultural products, especially rice, significantly affects 
the production, availability of supply and stability of process and food security of the State. 
FURTHERMORE, IT IS ALSO THE POLICY OF THE STATE TO PROMOTE THE 
AFFORDABILITY OF FOOD AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES FOR 
FILIPINO CONSUMERS BY PREVENTING LARGESCALE ABUSE OF MARKET 
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POWER, HOARDING AND OTHER PRACTICES TO MANIPULATE PRICES AND 
UNDULY RESTRAIN SUPPLY. 
The State shall impose higher sanctions for large-scale smuggling of agricultural 
 
products AND OTHER ABUSES OF MARKET POWER as self-preservation measure 
 
to shield itself from the manipulative scheme of economic saboteurs, and to protect the 
 
livelihood of our farmers and to ensure their economic well-being AND THAT OF 
 
CONSUMERS." 
SECTION 4. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
SECTION 3. Large-Scale Agricultural Smuggling as Economic Sabotage. – The crime of 
large-scale agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage, involving RICE, sugar, corn, 
BEEF, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and cruciferous vegetables, in its raw state, 
or which have undergone the simple processes of preparation or preservation for the 
market, with a minimum amount of one million pesos (P1,000,000.00), [or rice, with a 
minimum amount of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00),] as valued by the Bureau of 
Customs (BOC), is committed through any of the following acts: 
XXX 
(I) ALLOWING OR APPROVING IN ONE’S CAPACITY AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OR 
OFFICER THE IMPORTATION INTO THE PHILIPPINES WITHOUT THE REQUIRED 
IMPORT PERMIT FROM THE REGULATORY AGENCIES, WHETHER OR NOT THERE 
IS PECUNIARY INTEREST OR MATERIAL BENEFIT OR ADVANTAGE ON THE PART 
OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OR OFFICER; 
(J) APPROVING OR GRANTING ANY LICENSE, EXPORT DECLARATION, 
CLEARANCE, OR PERMIT KNOWING THAT THE SAME IS MANIFESTLY 
UNLAWFUL, INEQUITABLE OR IRREGULAR, WETHER OR NOT THERE IS 
PECUNIARY INTEREST OR MATERIAL BENEFIT OR ADVANTAGE ON THE PART 
OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE OR OFFICER; 
AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLED PRODUCTS THAT WERE CONFISCATED SHALL BE 
IN THE JOINT CUSTODY AND POSSESSION OF THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS, 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY. 
THE BOC, DA, AND DTI SHALL CONDUCT INVENTORY AND DETERMINE THE 
VOLUME AND VALUE OF THE AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLED PRODUCTS.  
SECTION 5. A new Section 3-A shall be inserted after Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10845 to 
read as: 
SECTION. 3-A. LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURAL HOARDING, PROFITEERING, AND 
CARTEL AS ECONOMIC SABOTAGE. – HOARDING, PROFITEERING, OR CARTEL, 
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7581, INSOFAR AS THEY 
INVOLVE RICE, SUGAR, CORN, BEEF, PORK, POULTRY, GARLIC, ONION, 
CARROTS, FISH AND CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES IN ITS RAW STATE, OR WHICH 
HAVE 
UNDERGONE 
THE 
SIMPLE 
PROCESSES 
OF 
PREPARATION 
OF 


PRESERVATION FOR THE MARKET, WITH A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION 
PESOS (P1,000,000.00) AS VALUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND 
THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS FOR DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED COMMODITIES, 
SHALL CONSTITUTE ECONOMIC SABOTAGE. 
HOARDED, PROFITEERED, OR CARTELLED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS THAT 
WERE CONFISCATED SHALL BE IN THE JOINT CUSTODY AND POSSESSION OF 
THE 
BUREAU 
OF 
CUSTOMS, 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
AGRICULTURE, 
AND 
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY. THE BOC, DA, AND DTI SHALL 
CONDUCT INVENTORY AND DETERMINE THE VOLUME AND VALUE OF THE 
HOARDED, PROFITEERED, OR CARTELLED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
SECTION 6. A new Section 4 shall be inserted after Section 3A to read as: 
SECTION 4. ANTI-AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC SABOTAGE TASK FORCE. –THERE 
IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED AN ANTI-AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC SABOTAGE 
TASK FORCE TO BE HEADED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND TO BE 
COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING: 
(A) OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OR HIS APPOINTEE; 
 
(B) REPRESENTATIVE FROM BUREAU OF CUSTOMS; 
 
(C) REPRESENTATIVE FROM DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INSPECTORATE 
AND ENFORCEMENT; 
 
(D) REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY; 
 
(E) REPRESENTATIVE FROM DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; 
 
(F) REPRESENTATIVE FROM NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION; 
 
(G) REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE;  
 
(H) REPRESENTATIVE FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD; 
 
(I) REPRESENTATIVE FROM PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY; 
 
(J) REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR WITH 
NATIONWIDE 
MEMBERSHIP 
EACH 
FROM 
LIVESTOCK, 
CROPS, 
AND 
FISHERIES SECTOR 
SECTION 7. A new Section 5 shall be inserted after Section 4 to read as: 
SECTION 5. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – THE TASK FORCE SHALL HAVE THE 
FOLLOWING POWERS AND FUNCTIONS: 


(A) TO EFFECT SEARCHES, SEIZURES, AND ARRESTS, AND TO EXCLUSIVELY 
FILE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CRIMINAL CASES BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR  
(B) TO INSPECT WAREHOUSES WHERE SEIZED COMMODITIES ARE STORED TO 
ENSURE THAT SUCH COMMODITIES ARE NOT BEING FERRETED OUT OR 
REMOVED WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION; AND  
(C) TO SECURE COPIES OF DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE NATURE AND 
PARTICULARS OF THE COMMODITY OR GOODS SUBJECT OF IMPORTATION, I.E. 
QUANTITY OR VOLUME, TECHNICAL OR QUALITATIVE SPECIFICATIONS, PORT 
OF DESTINATION/ESTIMATED DATE OF ARRIVAL IN THE PHILIPPINES, CARGO 
MANIFEST, 
REFERENCE 
VALUES 
FROM 
THE 
BUREAU 
OF 
CUSTOMS, 
TRANSACTION VALUES OF IMPORTERS, AMONG OTHERS, FROM GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES CONCERNED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE BUREAU OF 
CUSTOMS, 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
AGRICULTURE, 
AND 
ALSO 
FROM 
NON 
GOVERNMENT SOURCES LIKE PRE-SHIPMENT COMPANIES AT THE PORT OF 
ORIGIN, AND COMMERCIAL BANKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXISTING LAWS, 
RULES, AND REGULATIONS. 
SECTION 8. A new Section 6 shall be inserted after Section 5 to read as: 
SECTION 6. PERIODIC CONSULTATION. – THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 
PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL SECTORS UNDER SECTION 4 (J) OF THIS ACT MAY 
CONDUCT PERIODIC CONSULTATIONS WITH THE LOCAL PRODUCERS AND 
STAKEHOLDERS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SECTORS. 
SECTION 9. A new Section 7 shall be inserted after Section 6 to read as: 
SECTION 8. REPORTING REQUIREMENT. – THE TASK FORCE SHALL SUBMIT A 
QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE 
OF THE PHILIPPINES ON THE PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS MADE IN THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.  
SECTION 10. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 4. Penalties. – (a) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair 
value of smuggled agricultural product OR THE PRODUCT SUBJECT TO HOARDING/ 
PROFITEERING/ OR CARTEL and the aggregate amount of the taxes,  duties 
and 
other charges avoided shall be imposed on any person who commits any of the acts 
enumerated under Sections 3 AND 3-A of this Act.  
(b) The penalty of imprisonment of not less than seventeen (17) years but not more than 
(20) years, and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled, PROFITEERED, HOARDED, 
OR CARTELLED agricultural product and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and 
other charges avoided shall be imposed on the officers of dummy corporations, non-
government organizations, associations, cooperatives, or single proprietorships who 
knowingly sell, lend, lease, assign, consent or allow the unauthorized use of their import 
permits for purposes of smuggling PROFITEERING, HOARDING, OR CARTELLING. 


(c) The penalty of imprisonment of not less than fourteen (14) years but not more than 
 
seventeen (17) years, and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled,  
 
PROFITEERED, HOARDED, OR CARTELLED agricultural product and the aggregate 
 
amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided shall be imposed on the 
 
following: 
XXX 
(3) The registered owner and lessee of a warehouse, or any property, who knowingly 
 
stores the smuggled, PROFITEERED, HOARDED, OR CARTELLED agricultural 
 
product subject to economic sabotage; or 
(4) The registered owner, lessee, president or chief executive officer of the private port, 
 
fish port, fish landing sites, resorts, and airports who knowingly allows the agricultural 
 
product to be smuggled into the country, OR TO BE HOARDED WITHIN THEIR 
 
FACILITIES." 
SECTION 11. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10845 is hereby amended to read as: 
"Sec. 7. Prescription of Crimes. – The crimeS punishable under this Act shall prescribe in 
twenty (20) years." 
SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DA, DTI AND BOC, in consultation 
with concerned agencies, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act 
within thirty (30) days upon its effectivity. 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – If any portion of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall continue to be in full force 
and effect. 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules and regulations 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,