‘Upset’ Duterte orders probe on missing 23k sacks of smuggled rice

President Rodrigo Duterte. Presidential Photo / KING RODRIGUEZ

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered an investigation on the missing 23,015 sacks of smuggled rice in Zamboanga City, Malacañang said.

“The President was visibly upset with the missing 23,015 sacks of smuggled rice in Zamboanga City,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

“The President has ordered an immediate investigation of this incident and that instructions were given for both the NFA OIC and Customs commissioner to place on preventive suspension individuals who may be part of this scheme,” Roque added.

Roque said Commissioner Isidro Lapeña told him that Zamboanga District collector Lyceo Martinez and Customs police district commander Filomeno Salazar have been relieved.

Roque said the two officials were sacked “for the purpose of ensuring that they cannot tamper with evidence and that they cannot influence the investigation.”

“Well, nagalit po talaga ang Presidente because how do you lose 23,000 sacks? I mean it’s incredible. Obviously, it cannot be done in a clandestine manner,” he said.

Asked if the National Food Authoruty (NFA) and the Bureau of Customs were colluding over those missing sacks of rice, Roque said the possibility was there.

“Investigation is ongoing but I think it’s obvious that because both agencies had some jurisdiction over the apprehended smuggled rice na parehong opisyales ng (officials from both) Customs at NFA probably have a liability for this,” he said.  /kga