DA chief back as NFA administrator

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tau Laurel Jr. on Monday returned as the National Food Authority (NFA) administrator after the Ombudsman ordered the suspension of more executives from the agency, including its recently appointed officer-in-charge (OIC).

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Ombudsman ordered the suspension of NFA’s OIC administrator, Piolito Santos, along with the agency’s acting department manager for operation and coordination, Jonathan Yazon.

The DA said the suspension was related to the NFA’s controversial sale of rice buffer stocks to private traders.

Laurel appointed Santos on March 6 after NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco was also suspended by the Ombudsman. Prior to being appointed OIC administrator, Santos served as NFA assistant administrator for finance and administration.

Following the recently appointed official’s preventive suspension, Laurel again became NFA administrator and assigned Larry Larson as the agency’s OIC deputy administrator.

“We want to stabilize the situation at the NFA following the events of last week. We want to help NFA employees during these challenging times to continue to provide uninterrupted service, especially during this harvest season,” Laurel said in a statement.

The shake-up in NFA’s ranks began on March 4 as Bioco, along with 138 other officials and employees of the agency, were placed under preventive suspension for six months amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged anomalous sale of the government’s rice buffer stocks.