Jason Aquino no longer NFA chief – Roque

Jason Aquino is no longer part of the National Food Authority (NFA).

This was the straight clarification of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday after he received reports that Aquino attended a meeting of the NFA Council even after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the former soldier had asked to be relieved from his post.

“Tapos na po ‘yang isyu na iyan. I had talked with SAP (Special Assistant to the President) Bong Go last night and that issue has been settled, he no longer is NFA (Administrator),” Roque said.

“I sought clarification and I was given clarification – tapos na po iyan,” he added.

Aquino left the NFA as he earned criticisms over the soaring prices of rice, which mainly contributed to the over-nine-year-high inflation of 6.4 percent in August.

Roque earlier said he was willing to file graft charges against Aquino for creating the rice crisis in many parts of the country.

According to Roque, Aquino should be held liable for technical malversation after a Commission on Audit report showed that the NFA used P5.1 billion to pay for loans instead of stabilizing the nation’s rice supply and prices.

“He (Aquino) contributed to the problem of inflation. He should be held liable. If no one files, I will,” Roque said.

READ: Roque vows to charge NFA chief over rice ‘mess’

Duterte recently announced that he was in search for a new NFA administrator after Aquino asked to be discharged from the agency.

READ: Duterte looking for new NFA chief as Jason Aquino has asked to be relieved

“Jason Aquino has requested to be relieved already,” Duterte said, adding that the former rebel military officer is already “tired.”  /kga