PASG seizes P5-million onions from ice factory

MANILA, Philippines - At least 18 tons of onions worth P5 million were seized by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) in an ice factory in Tondo, Manila.

PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. said the onions were discovered earlier this week concealed at the Luz 1 Cold Storage and Ice Plant Compound in Balut, Tondo.

Villar said the compound, occupied by Lawrence Printing Services, had been inspected last month, but was found empty.

Company owner Lawrence Tiu Gatchalian reportedly signified his intention to present import permits covering the imported onions from Malaysia and Holland, but he failed to appear at the PASG office in Malacañang. The compound is now secured by PASG operatives.

PASG conducted a series of raids last month against smuggled farm products and netted more than 100,000 sacks of imported garlic and onions – worth P50 million – hidden in refrigerated warehouses in Manila, Malabon and Navotas.

PASG conducted the raids after members of Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Magsisibuyas ng Nueva Ecija (KASAMNE) sought the agency’s help to curb onion smuggling.

KASAMNE said local farmers cannot survive the low prices of imported onions that flood the local market.   – Paolo Romero