MANILA, Philippines ? Acting Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary and concurrent Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera warned store owners that the government has an intensified drive against price manipulators.
"We should not take advantage of the situation," she said.
Devanadera said prosecutors were on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for complaints against hoarding, price manipulation, and other acts in violation of the price control law.
"The Office of the Prosecutors is open anytime to accept complaints," she said.
On Monday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) started the drive against price manipulators, hoarders, and profiteers taking advantage of the calamity.
She also said prices of prime commodities could be placed under price control during the duration of the state of calamity declared by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The President placed under the state of calamity the whole Metro Manila, as well as the towns of San Mateo, Cainta, and Rodriquez (Montalban), and Antipolo City in Rizal province.
She eventually issued another declaration placing the entire nation under the state of calamity the entire nation to allow the local government units (LGUs) to share part of their calamity funds to help in the relief operations of the victims of the onslaught of storm "Ondoy" on September 26, 2009.
"Sa state of calamity, pwedeng ilagay sa price control ang mga prime commodities at LPG (liquefied petroleum products) na isa na rin sa pangunahing pangangailangan ng taong bayan (Under a state of calamity, the prime commodities and LPG, which is also one of the basic needs of the people, can also be placed under the price control)," Devanadera
said.
"It depends on the situation whether how long the state of calamity will exist as it is being reviewed by the authorities if the effects of the calamity are still there," Devanadera added.
The basic commodities include rice, canned sardines, poultry, and farm products, as well as bottled mineral water.
