Press Release
05 February 2014
Refer To: Jeeno C. Arellano
(09272286617)
Senate President
Franklin M. Drilon today echoed Malacañang’s plea to judicial authorities to
speed up the resolution of rice smuggling cases, saying that slow resolution of
these cases is an injustice to the Filipino farmers.
Presidential
Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. has earlier called on
the judiciary to act faster on 157 cases of alleged rice smuggling filed in the
Court of Appeals since 2010.
“The slow disposition
of smuggling related cases only results in smugglers being more brazen in
carrying out their illegal activities. The speedy prosecution and resolution of
smuggling cases will be the most potent warning against those who seek to
violate our laws,” the Senate leader said.
“We must show that
the wheels of justice are moving vigorously against smugglers."
“Smuggling is hurting
our economy and it is hurting severely the livelihood of our poor rural
farmers, who spend their entire days toiling under the sun to ensure that we
would have food on our table, only to be thwarted by those who engage in rice
smuggling," lamented Drilon.
The Senate chief
emphasized that it is important that the three branches of government work
hand-in-hand in dealing with the problem of smuggling in the country, and that
each of them must be able to move at the same fast pace in order to effectively
arrest smuggling and provide justice to the farmers, who are the very victims
of these unscrupulous activities.
“The government needs
to show that the full force of its powers are working against those who would
conduct smuggling of rice and other commodities, and that rigorous
investigations and full prosecution under the law await anyone involved in this
illegal trade,” said Drilon, a former justice secretary who also served as
executive secretary and labor secretary during past administrations.
“Let us go after
these hoodlums by strengthening our laws, by providing assistance to our law
enforcers, and by addressing the backlog of cases in our courts and ensuring a
speedy delivery of justice,” he stressed.
The Senate chief
reassured the public that the Congress will be relentless in its resolve “to go
to the bottom of the issue” in order to craft legislature and policies that
would aid the government in strengthening its fight against those who seek to
destroy our economy with their brazen disregard of the laws. ###
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