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Thursday, April 03, 2008
DOJ forms group to pursue rice hoarders
MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has stepped into the looming rice crisis after it constituted a panel of prosecutors Wednesday to go after rice traders and middlemen engaged in rice hoarding or cartels.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. issued a department order creating the Anti-Rice Hoarding Task Force, which shall supervise proceedings on inquest, preliminary investigation, and prosecution of all cases relating to unlawful acts "inimical to the preservation and protection of the country's rice supply."
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Named chairman of the task force was Senior State Prosecutor Roberto Lao, while members of the panel include State Prosecutors Romeo Galvez, Philip Dela Cruz, Nestor Lazaro, and Prosecution Attorney Ma. Rhodora Salazar.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was also tasked to render the resource and groundwork assistance of other law enforcement and administrative agencies for purposes of facilitating the investigation, resolution, and prosecution of the said cases.
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"This Department Order is being issued in line with the need to adopt prompt, expeditious and urgent measures to stop and prevent rice hoarding and related crimes as these are considered pernicious acts of economic sabotage," the order stated.
In a separate memorandum, Gonzalez directed the task force and the NBI to prioritize its investigation of 21 accredited rice retailers in Cebu and 115 warehouses in Bulacan, believed engaged in hoarding rice in order to manipulate its prices.
The information was based on the report of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Central Visayas that it has suspended the rice allocation of 21 accredited retailers in Cebu after these were found to have committed violations in the distribution and sale of government rice, including overpricing, unreasonable depletion of stocks, and refusal to sell to customers.
The NFA, NBI, and the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Task Force raided the Inter-City Industrial Estate in Bocaue, Bulacan, which houses 115 warehouses each of which held 25,000 to 40,000 sacks of rice.
"In this connection, you are hereby directed to look into and summon all the personalities mentioned in the said article and if warranted, conduct proper preliminary investigation proceedings thereon preparatory to the filing of the appropriate information in court," Gonzalez ordered.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said it has alerted all police regional offices and national support units to go after rice hoarders and illegal traders who are diverting government subsidized rice to the commercial market.
PNP Director for Operations Silverio Alarcio Jr. said police action is being initiated "to preempt the possible impact on peace and order of increase in the prices of rice and other basic commodities."
Alarcio instructed police regional directors to closely coordinate with local offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), NFA, and local government units (LGUs), in monitoring prices of basic commodities especially rice and other food products.
Among other police actions, PNP units were instructed to arrest and investigate persons engaged in unauthorized re-milling of rice, and re-bagging of NFA grain products.
Police units will also provide security to rice storage facilities, government food warehouses, and NFA accredited rice warehouses against possible pilferage and to prevent NFA rice from being diverted to the commercial market by unscrupulous traders.
"If it is necessary that we should tail all trucks hauling NFA rice to ensure that the cargo does not end up in illegal warehouses, we will do that and hit hard on the hoarders who are causing this artificial crisis," Alarcio said.
The DTI attribute the "artificial shortage" and rising prices of commercial rice to high fuel prices, lower production due to global warming, rising demand due to over population, and the 150 percent increase in the prices of fertilizers.
PNP spokesman Nicanor Bartolome said: "The PNP is doing its share in normalizing the market situation and possibly mitigate the effects of rising prices of rice and other basic commodities."
"The PNP fully supports the inter-agency campaign initiated by the DTI, NFA, DA, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), and the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) to stabilize food prices," Bartolome said.
Last week, authorities swooped down on a warehouse of a Chinese-Filipino and caught a number of people repacking NFA rice, which are being sold in the market as commercial rice. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (April 3, 2008 issue)
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