Philippines: Pimentel Denounces Illegal Diversion of NFA Rice

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NAVIGATE: Home » All Entries, Press Releases & Statements » Philippines: Pimentel Denounces Illegal Diversion of NFA Rice

PUBLISHED ON March 13, 2008 AT 12:05 PM

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) today denounced the illegal diversion
of 120,000 sacks of subsidized rice from the National
Food Authority (NFA) to grains cartels and their sale
at the retail market at commercial rates in Northern
Mindanao.

Pimentel said concerned insiders from the NFA
furnished him with documents detailing the illegal
activity and identifying the personalities involved.

He said the diverted NFA rice was repacked and sold at
a retail price of P25 per kilo, instead of only P18 as
prescribed by the NFA.

Pimentel said that since President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo was reported to have ordered
agriculture and law enforcement officials to
investigate the matter, he will defer his plan to file
a resolution for a Senate inquiry of the same.

“My own reaction is to allow Gloria to investigate
this before the Senate comes into the picture,” he
said.

“She must prosecute the crooks in the NFA Northern
Mindanao who sold 120,000 sacks of NFA rice to corrupt
cartels, depriving the people of affordable rice.”

Pimentel said the authorities should also look into
reports that rice procured by the Department of
Education for the Food for School program is being
stolen by corrupt officials and sold to commercial
grains traders. One specific case of rice diversion
was reported in Batangas.

Under the Food for School program, elementary school
pupils from indigent families are given one kilo of
rice each every day which they bring to their homes to
ensure that there is something to eat for their
families.
-o0o-

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