NFA Council chairman wants rice hoarders charged with economic sabotage

Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. (Photo from Malacañang)

National Food Authority (NFA) Council Chairman Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr. on Monday said he would want rice hoarders to be charged with economic sabotage for deliberately withholding distribution of the staple food to manipulate prices in the market.

Evasco, who is also the secretary to the Cabinet, said the NFA must be “proactive” in monitoring and inspecting warehouses that could be hoarding rice.

“There is really a need to be very, very proactive on the part of NFA to look into the bodegas, warehouses managed and run by private traders,” Evasco told reporters in a press briefing after the NFA Council held its meeting.

“If they are found to be hoarding, prosecute, arrest [them],” he said.

“Criminal offense talaga ‘yan, pag mag hoarding ka. Economic sabotage talaga ’yan,” he added. “Can you sleep at night when a lot people don’t have anything to buy and yet you’re hoarding and keeping so much? Economic sabotage ‘yan and you will be prosecuted.” /atm