MANILA, Philippines -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to gather evidence against National Food Authority (NFA) officials and employees in Mindanao allegedly in cahoots with rice hoarders to exploit the current food crisis.

Gonzalez said documents submitted by the Department of Agriculture are not enough to determine the criminal liability of NFA officials.

"The investigation has already started but the documents which have been submitted were not sufficient," Gonzales said.

Last week, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s temper flared after the Department of Justice failed to provide her information about the possible criminal liability of NFA officials.

Gonzalez explained that the endorsement of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap was only for the administrative liability of four NFA officials, whom he refused to identify at the moment.