NFA head, 138 others suspended over rice buffer stocks sale

This November 4, 2020, photo shows sacks of rice stockpiled at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Quezon City. Administrator Roderico Bioco and 138 other officials and employees were placed under preventive suspension for their alleged involvement in the sale of rice buffer stocks by the Office of the Ombudsman starting March 4, 2024, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Roderico Bioco and 138 other officials and employees were placed under preventive suspension for their alleged involvement in the sale of rice buffer stocks.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Office of the Ombudsman’s order for their preventive suspension takes effect Monday, March 4, and will be implemented for six months.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) chief said he will temporarily take over the NFA leadership.

READ: DA probes sale of NFA rice stocks at low prices

Aside from Bioco, other NFA officials ordered suspended include NFA Assistant Administrator for Operations John Robert Hermano and several regional managers and warehouse supervisors nationwide.

“Kinokondena at hindi palalampasin ang anumang uri ng korapsyon. Kaisa ako ng Ombudsman sa layunin nitong alamin ang katotohanan at parusahan ang dapat maparusahan,” Tiu Laurel said.

(Corruption of any kind is condemned and will not be tolerated. I am with the Ombudsman in its goal to find out the truth and punish those who deserve to be punished.)