The Philippine government has announced a reward of up to P20 million for anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of agricultural product smugglers and hoarders.
According to Agriculture spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, under the newly enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, hoarding or smuggling agricultural products worth more than P10 million is now classified as economic sabotage.
The law also mandates that individuals found guilty of these offenses will face life imprisonment without the possibility of bail and will be fined five times the value of the confiscated products.
For instance, if the smuggled goods are valued at P100 million, the smugglers will be fined P500 million, the official added.