Bernie Anabo Jr.
38,342 SACKS OF RICE AND SUGAR DESTROYED — NO WAY BACK TO THE MARKET
ZERO TOLERANCE. ZERO MERCY FOR CONTRABAND.
That is the unmistakable message coming from the Bureau of Customs–Port of Zamboanga under District Collector Atty. Manuel “Manny” O. Zurbito Jr.
While smugglers may think they can make a quick fortune by sneaking agricultural products into the country, Zurbito’s latest enforcement action sends a very different message:
Your illegal cargo can end up destroyed—and your investment can go up in smoke.
The Port of Zamboanga has condemned a staggering 38,342 sacks of seized and forfeited rice and sugar, carrying a total arrival value of ₱87,644,036.59.
These were not ordinary commodities simply being disposed of.
They were goods seized in various enforcement operations from 2019 to 2024, and authorities determined that they were unfit for commerce and human consumption.
Under Zurbito’s watch, the message is brutally simple: contraband that threatens consumers, legitimate traders and government revenue has no place in the marketplace.
ZURBITO: ENFORCEMENT MUST HAVE TEETH
For Zurbito, condemnation is not merely about destroying sacks of rice and sugar.
It is about making sure seized goods do not somehow find their way back into the commercial stream.
And that is where effective customs enforcement matters.
A seizure is only one battle. The bigger challenge is ensuring that confiscated goods are properly disposed of and cannot be recycled into another illegal transaction.
Zurbito put it squarely:
“This is a vital enforcement tool that safeguards food security, maintains fair competition and reinforces the rule of law.”
That statement deserves attention.
Because behind every illegally imported agricultural product is a potential threat—not only to government revenue but also to legitimate Filipino traders and consumers.
Smuggling does not operate in a vacuum.
When illegal shipments enter the market, legitimate businesses that pay duties, taxes and regulatory costs are forced to compete against operators who attempt to bypass the rules.
That is not competition.
That is cheating.
₱87.6 MILLION WORTH OF CONTRABAND — GONE!
The scale of the condemnation is difficult to ignore:
38,342 sacks.
₱87.64 million in arrival value.
One decisive message: THE MARKET IS NOT A DUMPING GROUND FOR ILLEGAL GOODS.
The operation also demonstrates that customs enforcement cannot be a one-agency show.
The Philippine National Police, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, National Bureau of Investigation, Commission on Audit, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Office of the City Mayor of Zamboanga and Sugar Regulatory Administration were among the agencies involved.
That inter-agency cooperation is crucial.
Smuggling networks do not respect agency boundaries. Therefore, government enforcement should not either.
MANNY ZURBITO UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
Collector Atty. Manuel “Manny” Zurbito Jr. deserves the spotlight for putting enforcement and accountability front and center in the Port of Zamboanga.
His approach is consistent with Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno’s IAM agenda—Integrity, Accountability and Modernization.
But let us be clear:
Integrity cannot simply be printed on a banner.
It has to be demonstrated through action.
Accountability cannot remain a slogan.
It has to be enforced.
And modernization means nothing if the old illegal practices continue to find loopholes.
The condemnation of these seized goods is therefore more than a ceremonial activity.
It is a statement of intent.
SMUGGLERS, TAKE NOTE!
To those who continue to view customs enforcement as merely an obstacle to their illegal business:
Think again.
Every shipment intercepted means money lost.
Every forfeited cargo means an illegal investment placed at risk.
And every properly condemned shipment means one less batch of questionable goods that can potentially reach unsuspecting consumers.
The battle against smuggling is far from over.
But under Zurbito, the Port of Zamboanga is showing that enforcement must not end with a seizure report gathering dust in an office.
SEIZE IT.
PROCESS IT.
FORFEIT IT WHEN WARRANTED.
DESTROY IT WHEN REQUIRED.
That is how enforcement gets teeth.
That is how public trust is rebuilt.
And that is how the Bureau of Customs tells smugglers:
YOUR CONTRABAND WILL NOT GET A SECOND LIFE IN THE MARKET.
Kudos to Collector Atty. Manuel “Manny” Zurbito Jr. and the men and women of the Port of Zamboanga for keeping the pressure on illegal trade.
The warning has been delivered.
Smuggling may be profitable—but when Customs catches you, your ₱87.6-million dream can literally go up in smoke.
