MANILA, Philippines -- The National Bureau of Investigation has filed criminal complaints against 13 rice traders before the Department of Justice, its Secretary Raul Gonzalez has announced.
In three separate complaints, the NBI's Task Force on Anti-Rice Hoarding filed complaints against traders from Laguna, Bulacan, Valenzuela, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Quezon City, and Pangasinan. They were charged with violating the Price Act, Revised Rules and Regulation on Grains Business (RRRGB) and Lack of Signboard.
Among those charged were:
? Anthony Choi Angeles from Laguna for alleged illegal price manipulation under Republic Act 7581 or the Consumer Price Act and for violating several provisions of Revised Rules and Regulation on Grains Business (RRRGB) which include cornering or hoarding of grains, absence of required license, unauthorized possession of NFA and unauthorized re-sacking of government rice in commercial sacks and lack of signboards.
? Romeo Mariano Jr. of RMJR Rice Mill in Tangos, Baliwag, Bulacan for allegedly violations of the Price Act, RRGB, and lack of signboard;
? Eleonor Rodriguez of Metro-Grain Marketing in Valenzuela; Meynardo Guevarra from Las Piñas; Francisco Dio from Baclaran, Parañaque; Arnel Lagonoy from Commonwealth, Quezon City; Mary Ann Mago from Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Geonell Vin Centeno from E. Rodriquez, Quezon City; Delia Barreda from Old Balara, Quezon City; Sofia De Guzman from San Antonio Valley, Las Piñas City; Prestifero Prado from Camarines Sur; Leonides Manalo also from Las Pinas; and Lydia Supremid from Mapandan, Pangasinan for alleged illegal price manipulation, hoarding, and lack of signboard.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has ordered the Bureau of Immigration to place the 13 traders on its watchlist.
"We have to make sure that they will not be able to leave the country," Gonzalez told a press conference Tuesday after a Cabinet meeting at the DoJ, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presided.
The biggest penalty to be meted without invoking aggravating circumstances is 50 years imprisonment for economic sabotage, Gonzalez said.
