Agri official welcomes probe on chicken imports

Agriculture Undersecretary Cesar Drilon welcomed yesterday the graft charges filed against him and several other officials, saying the questioned importation of chicken from the United States worth P23 million could stand scrutiny by the Ombudsman.

"Everything was legal and aboveboard and we will all be vindicated by the probe conducted by the Ombudsman. In fact, this is already a cleared and closed case as far as the Department of Agriculture (DA) is concerned," he stressed.

Drilon warned the complainant, Marlene Garcia-Esperat, former action officer of the Department of Agriculture (DA) resident Ombudsman, of being criminally liable herself for peddling lies.

"We are glad of the chance to clear our names and we are also glad that she has surfaced so we can sue her for her false charges," said the younger brother of Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Esperat claimed Drilon along with nine other officials allowed CSP International Commodities Corp. to import 10 vans containing 226.8 metric tons of fresh chicken leg quarters in two shipments last January with questionable clearance.

Esperat revealed that CSP handled the importation even if the "original consignee" was Princess Whales Import-Export Corp., a food processor firm based in General Santos City.

Businessman Samuel Señoren earlier welcomed any probe by the Ombudsman on Esperat’s allegations but warned of a counter suit.

Drilon contested the transfer of consignee name from Princess Whales Import-Export Corp. to CSP International Commodities Corp. was "fully transparent and aboveboard."

The consignee name was "identified, the address was verified and the taxes due have been paid," he reasoned out.

Drilon argued that all the requirements had been "complied with," including those under the Consumer Safety Act, which gave them no reason not to issue the required veterinary quarantine clearance (VQC).

He also defended allowing the release of the shipment even when the VQC had expired 12 days after its issuance in May 14.

"The VQC had already served the purpose for the shipment. The proper safeguards were made to ensure that that particular VQC was applied only to that particular shipment," Drilon said.

With Princess Whales as consignee, Esperat claimed the goods arrived at the Manila International Container Port last Jan. 22 and 31 even if the shipment did not have the VQC.

Esperat had learned CSP amended the consignee’s name — from Princess Whales to CSP — when CSP applied for clearance.

A VQC was subsequently issued with "expiry" date on May 14.

Esperat said Drilon "approved the temporary release" of the shipment on May 26 after the VQC had expired.

This makes Drilon liable for violating the anti-graft law or Republic Act 3019 for giving undue advantage to CSP, she argued.

Esperat also disclosed Drilon issued two letters on March 16 and 23 and affixed his "signatures over the printed name" of former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., which he later sent to Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Antonio Bernardo.

The first letter was acknowledged by Lorenzo, but the second one was not. In fact, Esperat said the former DA chief wrote Anti-Smuggling Task Force chief Angelo Reyes about it.

Lorenzo even formed a panel to investigate the alleged smuggling case.

But Drilon explained that in both instances, he was allowed by Lorenzo’s consultant, lawyer Benjamin Tabios, to sign over his boss’ printed name.

"My communications were countersigned by the Bureau of Animal Industry, the DA’s legal department, Tabios, Dr. Benjamin Alberece, Lorenzo’s consultant for livestock, and Rachel Titular, Lorenzo’s chief of staff," Drilon said.

"We have always been strict on imports. In fact, we are the only country in Asia that requires VQC from every shipment," he said.