DOJ OKs crime raps vs trader Bangayan

SMUGGLING PROBE Davidson Bangayan, aka David Tan, at a Senate hearing in 2014 on rice smuggling. —INQUIRER PHOTO

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the filing of criminal charges against businessman Davidson Bangayan, alias David Tan, and five others in connection with accusations that they engaged in the manipulation of the supply and prices of rice.

In a 14-page resolution dated Nov. 5 and signed by State Prosecutor Miguel Gudio Jr., the DOJ said there was probable cause to indict Bangayan, Elizabeth Faustino, David G. Lim, Judilyn C. Lim, Eleanor C. Rodriguez and Leah Echeveria for monopolies and combinations in restraint of trade, a violation of the Revised Penal Code.

Bangayan was also ordered charged with illegal use of an alias.

Farmers used

The National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Graft Division, which acted as the complainant, sought the prosecution of the respondents for allegedly conniving with and employing farmers’ cooperatives and organizations to participate in the National Food Authority’s bidding for accreditation as rice importers to manipulate supply and prices of rice.

Gudio, in his resolution, said the “financial and technical support provided by respondents to farmers’ cooperatives” indicated an “intention to use these entities as dummies with the end in view of monopolizing and manipulating rice supply in the country.”

Bangayan and his fellow respondents helped farmers’ groups in processing requirements and paid “all necessary expenses,” the DOJ resolution said.

2 witnesses

Among the entities that allegedly acted as dummies of the respondents were the Riverview Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC), Umasaka MPC, Sitio Muzon MPC, Sta. Cecilia MPC, Formosa MPC, GPI San Miguel MPC, Kapatirang Takusa MPC, Ugnayang Magbubukid ng San Isidro Inc., Samahan ng Kapampangan at Katagalugan MPC and Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Kalawitan MPC.

Two NBI witnesses tagged Bangayan, using the alias David Tan, as the financier of some of the cooperatives while Faustino acted as his broker and was the one who facilitated the documentary and financial requirements so that the cooperatives can participate in the bidding for rice procurement.

The NBI also made use of the Senate committee report in 2013 that investigated rice smuggling, which Bangayan attended and where he admitted that he was also known as David Tan.