Querubin hits rice import, seeks crackdown on smugglers

Nueva Ecija—Independent senatorial candidate Ariel Querubin joined a farmers’ rally in Guimba on March 22, expressing support for local producers and calling for a crackdown on rice smugglers and hoarders.

Querubin, a retired Marine colonel and Medal of Valor awardee, criticized the government’s rice importation policies, which he said drive down prices of locally grown palay.

“Nag-iimport tayo ng bigas. Tapos mas mura nilang binebenta kaysa dun sa nasaka natin, yung binebenta natin. Kawawa talaga yung mga lokal nating magsasaka kasi binabarat sila,” Querubin stated.

Farmers who attended the rally said they were selling palay for as low as P14 per kilo, with some expressing desperation over rising debts and a lack of support from government agencies.

Querubin said government agencies should be required to prioritize purchasing local agricultural products over imports.

“Ipupush din natin na lahat ng agencies ng gobyerno na unahin muna na bilhin yung mga produkto ng ating magsasaka kaysa naman yung imported,” Querubin declared.

Querubin also questioned the lack of accountability in smuggling cases.

“Ang daming mga imbestigasyon na nangyayari sa Senado, sa Kongreso. Pero mayroon na ba tayong napakulong na smugglers, mga hoarders na yan?” Querubin said.

“Hanggang ngayon—kapag may nabangga na sila na malaking pangalan ay naduduwag naman na sila. Kaya ang kailangan natin isang matapang na Senador,” he added.

The event was attended by Magsasaka Party-list Rep. Argel Cabatbat and former Agriculture Secretary Leo Sebastian Montemayor, drawing more than 1,000 farmers from across the province.

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Atty Elmore Ornelas

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Photo Courtesy of Querubin Campaign Team