House sets probe into NFA rice sale issue on March 7

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives panel on agriculture and food will start its own investigation on the National Food Authority’s (NFA) alleged low-price sale of the government’s rice buffer stocks to particular traders this Thursday, committee chairman and Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga said.

“Tomorrow, we will be conducting our motu proprio inquiry, in aid of legislation, particular to the issue on NFA,” Enverga said during the lower chamber’s Wednesday press conference, saying that House Speaker Martin Romualdez asked the panel to make the probe a priority. 

“Romualdez told us to make this a priority. In fact, a resolution was filed last Tuesday, but unfortunately, due to the gravity of work here in Congress, it was not referred to us. That’s why he instructed us to do it in a motu proprio manner,” Enverga added.

Last March 4, the Office of the Ombudsman placed National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Roderico Bioco and 138 other officials and employees of the agency under preventive suspension for six months amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged anomalous sale of the government’s rice buffer stocks.

As stated in its order, the Ombudsman said it found “sufficient grounds” to suspend the NFA officials and employees as “there is strong evidence showing their guilt.” The charges against them included grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Citing a letter-complaint filed by NFA Assistant Administrator for Operations Lemuel Pagayunan, the Ombudsman said Bioco permitted the traders to sell 75,000 bags of “deteriorating or aging” NFA rice for P93.75 million through a series of memorandums.

Pagayunan also cited a memorandum issued by another NFA official instructing the rebagging of rice stocks in containers without the NFA markings before selling them as commercial rice.