NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
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23 MAR-6 P5 53
SENATE
s.B. no.1963
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar
AN ACT ESTABLISHING ANTI-AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING COURT, 
GRANTING THEM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OVER CASES 
INVOLVING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, APPOPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2016, Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricuiturai 
Smuggiing Act of 2016, was enacted for the purpose of protecting iocai agricuiturai 
industry and farmers from agricuiturai smuggiing.
However, iast year, the market price of onions started to increase 
uncontroiiabiy and reached up to P 750 per kiio during the Christmas Season. This 
prompted the Committee on Agricuiture, Food and Agrarian Reform to conduct a 
hearing in aid of iegisiation on January 16, 2022.
The committee found out that carteis over import onion thereby fixing the price 
of iocai onions. The hoarders, in coiiusion, store these suppiies in the coid storage to 
create a shortage so that the price wouid go up. A ciear scenario of price manipuiation.
Due to price manipuiation, farmers suffered economic ioss. Now, farmers are 
afraid to produce because they might not be abie to get back their investments.
With aii the issues on smuggiing, hoarding, profiteering and cartei of 
agricuiturai products, it is baffiing that no one is prosecuted.
According to Food and Fertiiizer Center for the Asian and Pacific Region (FFTC- 
AP), from 1986-2009, at ieast $1.96 biiiion worth of rice had been smuggied in the 
Philippines. Next top products to be smuggled were refined sugar worth $ 448.2


million, onion ($ 259.6 million), pork ($117.5 million),chicken ($ 27.8 million), ginger 
($ 7.8 million), and carrots and turnips ($ 6.5 million).1
The funds that the government should have collected from these duties and 
taxes could have been used to fund agriculture programs for farmers to improve their 
productivity and income, public services and infrastructure projects.
To ensure that the economic sabotage cases under this law will be treated with 
the most preferential attention, Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court will be created.
The main purpose of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court is to try cases 
involving smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel of agricultural products and to 
ensure that individuals and organizations involved in these activities are held 
accountable for their actions. This includes imposing penalties, fines, and other legal 
sanctions for those found guilty. As per the agricultural industry, the court will also 
help prevent the further spread of smuggled agricultural products and protect the 
interests of local farmers.
The court will operate under the supervision of the Supreme Court. The 
proceedings of the court are subject to the rules and regulations rules that will be 
promulgated by the Supreme Court and are held in accordance with due process and 
the principles of fairness and justice.
Overall, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court and other Courts play an 
important role in addressing the problem of smuggling in the agricultural sector and 
help to promote the sustainable development of the industry by ensuring that those 
who engage in illegal activities are held accountable for their actions.
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.
SEN, CYNTHIA A
1 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1497381/agriculture-smuggling-an-unending-torture-for-ph-farmers
2


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. Nol 963
1$^ Senate
23 MI\R-6 P5S3
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar
AN ACT ESTABLISHING ANTI-AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING COURT, 
GRANTING THEM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OVER CASES 
INVOLVING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title- This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Agricultural Smuggling
2 
Courts Act of 2023"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy- It is the policy of the state to protect farmers,
4 
consumers and the general public from illicit trade of agricultural products. It is also
5 
the policy of the state to ensure the efforts of farmers and agricultural industry to
6 
succeed and thrive, and to guarantee the health and safety of the consumers.
7 
To uphold this duty, the State shall prosecute economic saboteurs, illicit traders,
8 
illegal importers, and smugglers through a court that will provide fair, impartial and
9 
speedy disposition of economic sabotage cases.
10 
Sec. 3. Establishment of Anti-Agricuiturai Smuggling Courts. - There is hereby
11 
created an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court that will try cases pertaining to
12 
smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel of agricultural products which shall be of


1 
the same level of the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Appeal, possessing all the
2 
inherent powers of a Court of Justice, and shall consist of (4) Divisions composed of
3 
three (3) Justices each for National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cebu, and Davao.
4 
Sec. 4. Jurisdiction-Jhe Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court shall have exclusive
5 
original jurisdiction on all cases involving:
6 
(a) All violations of Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as Anti-
7 
Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 including those made by Public Officer whether he
8 
be the principal accused, an accomplice or merely an accessory.
9 
(b) The Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court shall have the primary jurisdiction
10 
over search and seizure of any object or person to be done by appropriate law
11 
enforcement agencies with respect to smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel of
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agricultural products.
13 
(c) All cases involving smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel of
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agricultural products.
15 
Sec. 5. Quaiification and Compensation of Justices. -
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(l)The Justices of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court shall possess the same
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qualifications, rank, category, salary, emoluments and other privileges, be subject to
18 
the same inhibitions and disqualifications, and enjoy the same retirements and other
19 
benefits as those provided for under existing laws for Associates Justices of
20 
Sandiganbayan and Court of Appeals.
21 
(2) The Justices shall be appointed by the President from a list prepared by the
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Judicial and Bar Council.
23 
Sec. 6. Tenure. - Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court Justices shall be appointed
24 
to serve during good behavior until they reach the age of seventy (70) years, or
25 
become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office, unless sooner removed
26 
for the same causes and in the same manner provided by law for Associates Justices
27 
of Sandiganbayan and Court of Appeals.
28 
Sec. 8. Appeais- Decisions and orders of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Court
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shall be appealed to the Supreme Court.
2


1 
Sec. 9. Special procedure. - The Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Courts that will try
2 
cases pertaining to smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel of agricultural
3 
products shall be governed by such special rules of procedure as the Supreme Court
4 
may promulgate.
5 
Sec. 10. Administrative Personnei - Upon the recommendation of the Anti-
6 
Agricultural Smuggling Court, the Supreme Court may designate, from among the
7 
officers and employees under it, or appoint the personnel necessary for the Anti-
8 
Agricultural Smuggling Court; Provided, however, that those merely designated shall
9 
not receive additional compensation, except per diems, traveling and necessary
10 
expenses in accordance with existing laws and rules.
11 
The Supreme Court shall appoint one (1) Clerk of Court for each Anti-
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Agricultural Smuggling Court. The Clerks of Court so appointed shall have the same
13 
qualifications, rank, category, salary, emoluments and other privileges, be subject to
14 
the same inhibitions and disqualifications, and enjoy the same retirements and other
15 
benefits as those provided for under existing laws for Clerk of Court of the
16 
Sandiganbayan or Court of Appeals.
17 
Sec. 11 Appropriations- The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
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Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following in its
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enactment into law and thereafter.
20 
Sec. 12 Impiementing Ruies and Regulations. - The Supreme Court shall
21 
formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
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Act.
23 
Sec. 13. Transitory Provisions. -All cases involving violations of Republic Act No.
24 
10845 pending the establishment of the Anti-Agricultural shall stay at the court where
25 
it is tried.
26 
Sec. 14. Separability Clause- In case any provision of this Act is declared
27 
unconstitutional, the other provisions shall remain in effect.


1 
Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules or
2 
regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended or modified
3 
accordingly.
4 
Sec. 16 Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
5 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.