Agri chief revokes import permit of seized imported Vietnamese rice

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Department of Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. said on Wednesday that it was him who ordered the cancellation of the import permit for rice from aboard MV Tay Son after receiving a “derogatory” information about the shipment.

“The records will show otherwise. It was the DA, through my office, that stopped the shipment by ordering the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to cancel its sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance, even though the vessel was already on its way to the Philippines,” Tiu Laurel said.

“Critics of the DA are painting a false picture of this incident, suggesting malice and corruption through insinuations that border on libel,” he added.

The shipment was supposedly bound for Davao Occidental, but the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Navy reportedly intercepted the vessel. This was after the DA’s BPI revoked the PPI’s sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances and notified the Port of Davao.

“The DA chief said the import permit was canceled at the request of Planters Product Inc. (PPI), which was importing 25-percent broken rice but was informed that the shipment contained 5-percent broken rice,” the department’s statement read.

“He added that PPI also notified him that the importation contract had already expired, as the delivery was originally scheduled for July, a period when rice supply is typically tight.”

The DA also said the vessel carrying the imported rice arrived at the Port of Davao last September 14 without a valid SPIC, and the captain refused BPI’s inspection.

On September 17, the ship departed Davao without clearance.

The Philippine Navy later intercepted the vessel off Sarangani and brought it to the Port of General Santos City, where the captain continued to resist inspection by the BPI.

Tiu Laurel said the BPI had recommended returning the rice to its country of origin and was awaiting action by the BOC.

“The BOC may instead seize the shipment and impose penalties, depending on its findings and the applicable rules. In either case, the vessel remains subject to penalties arising from the incident,” the DA said. —VAL, GMA News