Sotto to unmask vegetable smugglers

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III intends to disclose the names of high-ranking government officials linked in the smuggling of agricultural products coming from China at the 3rd Senate hearing scheduled April 12, which “has been pestering the agricultural sector”, according to Sotto’s tandem, presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

“We will validate the extent of vegetable smuggling and reveal those involved at the next Senate hearing,” said Sotto.

During Monday’s in-person Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel media forum at the Manila Hotel, moderated by veteran journalist Jullie Yap-Daza, Sotto also said he will push to overturn Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s veto of the security of tenure (endo) bill that was blocked in July 2019.

Sotto said they have the names of those dubbed ‘untouchables’ involved in the illegal importation of vegetables from China.

At last month’s hybrid hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste Jr. testified that certain government officials urged him not to file cases against those involved.

Sotto is expected to reveal the names provided to the committee.

Also at the Kapihan, Lacson is urging Malacanang to identify the provisions of the endo bill that merited the President’s veto.

Although Sotto is already on his third and last term at the Senate, he will push to overturn the veto when a new Senate convenes after the election.

“We want Malacanang to tell us what they want to change in the bill,” added Lacson who explained the endo bill underwent a lengthy debate.

Focus of Lacson’s economic platform is the rationalization of taxes. He is proposing to lower the Value-Added Tax (VAT) to 10% while removing as many exemptions as possible. “We have one of the highest VAT in the region,” he said. Even with a lower VAT, government can still raise revenues by “removing the different exemptions on taxes imposed on consumers.”

On why they are consistently trailing in poll surveys, Lacson said they “are motivated by what we see on the ground. At every place we visit, when we ask the crowd who has participated in an election survey, no one has admitted.”

Sotto added that he is planning to file a resolution to look into how surveys are conducted and how the results are disseminated to media.

Lacson meanwhile said “Our track record in fighting corruption can speak for themselves … we have been hardened by experience.”

Sotto added, “We promise to lead by example. We have the solutions to the country’s problems.”