House to probe plant bureau’s P200-M ‘Napoles scam’

House of Representatives. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The committee on good governance and public accountability of the House of Representatives is set to conduct an inquiry on the alleged “Janet Lim-Napoles” of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

The committee met on Tuesday to assume jurisdiction on House Resolution No. 341 filed by Cavite representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr.

According to the resolution, a certain Leah Cruz operated a P200 million scam in the BPI.

Only the companies of Cruz were supposedly granted permits by the BPI for the importation of garlic and onions.

Cruz allegedly used dummy companies owned by her drivers, clerks and house helpers as owners of her companies, according to the resolution.

Cruz then operated a “monopoly” that allowed her to profit “through fraudulent means in the amount of almost P200 million.”

“Leah Cruz is the Janet Lim-Napoles of the BPI who used dummy drivers and companies for the importation of garlic and onion,” Barzaga told the committee in the meeting.

Cruz was likened to controversial businesswoman Napoles who allegedly operated a billion pesos racket on lawmakers’ discretionary pork barrel funds using bogus non-government organizations for kickbacks.

Napoles is jailed on charges of illegal detention.

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