Joseph Azil Buena

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 24, signed into law Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, classifying smuggling, profiteering, and hoarding of agricultural products disrupting different sectors across the country as ‘economic sabotage,’ completing his promise on his 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

Photo Courtesy of Department of Agriculture.

The anti-agri sabotage law, which is Marcos’ newest addition to his agricultural programs, aims to combat rising food and commodity prices by imposing stricter policies on saboteurs and cartels that allegedly manipulate market prices.

Under the law, those who are caught committing crimes constituting economic sabotage will face a non-bailable offense and penalty of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to five times the value of the products involved in the crime.. 

In his speech at the Malacañang Palace before a crowd of lawmakers and key stakeholders in the agriculture, fisheries, and tobacco industries, Marcos ensured swift and decisive action will be done against anyone who dares to sabotage the agriculture sector.

“Let us then acknowledge the gravity of the situation: These crimes threaten not only our economy but our national security as well. It jeopardizes the livelihood of hardworking Filipino farmers and fisherfolk and it threatens the food sustainability of our communities,” Marcos said. 

“No longer will these cases gather dust; they will be prioritized and they will be resolved urgently. We will confront and dismantle the powerful forces that have long exploited our system for their own gain, ensuring that justice prevails, and the dignity of our agricultural sector is upheld,” he added.

Marcos also stated that in 2023, the Philippines lost 3 billion pesos due to agricultural smuggling, but has also recovered PHP 230 million during the last nine months.

“Every sack of smuggled rice, every under-the-table onion deal, every substandard meat sneaking past our quarantine checks—these are not just numbers; they represent lives, families, and futures that are being compromised,” he cited.

Pursuant to RA 12022, “economic sabotage” is referred to as “disrupting the economy by creating artificial shortage, promoting excessive importation, manipulating prices and supply and evading payment or underpayment of tariffs and custom duties.”

‘Agri cartels’ days are numbered through urgent bill’

Marcos, in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2023, already warned smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products that their ‘days were numbered.’

“Ihahabol at ihahabla natin sila … Pandaraya ang kanilang ginagawa. Napapahamak hindi lamang ang mga magsasaka, kundi tayo na ring mga mamimili. Kaya hindi natin papayagan ang ganitong kalakaran. Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga smugglers at hoarders na ‘yan,” the president said during his SONA 2023 opening on the state of Philippine agriculture.

In September of last year, Marcos had certified then-Senate Bill 2432 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Bill, which was set to repeal Republic Act No. 10845, known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, as urgent.

Still, by May this year, the Senate was in the process of bill ratification, with then-Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri vowing that the bicameral would pass the bill before June in time for the SONA.

The priority law then went through another round of ratification until August, past the president’s 2024 SONA, and was yet to be transmitted to the Office of the President despite agriculture sectors calling for the immediate approval of the bill.