Don’t let NFA be run by alien, says group

Argee Guevarra. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/argee.guevarra

MANILA, Philippines—A leader of a militant group on Saturday called for decisive action against graft in the Department of Agriculture (DA) which he said manifested itself in the appointment of an administrator in the National Food Authority (NFA) who enjoys dual citizenship.

In a statement, lawyer Argee Guevarra of the group Sanlakas  said blame should rest on the door of the office of the agriculture secretary for his “dubious choice of appointees.”

Guevarra accused Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala of “turning the DA into his kingdom, appointing members of his Quezon mafia.”

Among those appointed with the help of Alcala was Orlan Calayag, now administrator of the NFA, an agency in charge of national food security.

Others who have been appointed by Alcala in the department “are the very same people who have been repeatedly accused of involvement in various acts of corruption, including the Napoles pork barrel  scam, but continue to enjoy the confidence of their political benefactor.”

“Since when did our laws, including the NFA charter, allow the appointment of someone who has renounced his Filipino citizenship  to acquire a foreign one?” said Guevarra in his statement, referring to Calayag’s appointment as NFA chief.

Calayag, a former aide of Alcala when the agriculture secretary was a member of the House of Representatives, returned to the Philippines from the United States on Dec. 19, 2012, bearing US passport No. 462971672.