Lawyer of couple linked to rice smuggling hits Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines—The lawyer of the couple suspected of being involved in rice smuggling has tagged as “witch-hunting” the investigation being conducted at the Senate.

Lawyer Steve Mendoza, in a statement issued Monday, said the hearing is “like a plane that does not want to land” because similar hearings have been conducted during the last Congress.

“They already know the modus operandi as adequately discussed and detailed in the last congress, how come they are still at it,” he said. Mendoza is the counsel for couple David and Judyline Lim of DGL Commodities Inc.

Senator Cynthia Villar earlier cited Judyline Lim in contempt after she denied using farmers’ cooperatives to import rice.

Meanwhile, a local consumer group warned that a worsening rice crisis looms even as grandstanding lawmakers are working for a slapdash investigation in its witch hunt of rice importers.

In a statement issued Monday, the Coalition of Filipino Consumers through its  secretary general Perfecto Tagalog said consumers continue to  suffer the effects of the rice crisis even as legitimate importers bear the brunt of attacks in terms of financial losses.

“What is truly alarming is that despite the grandstanding by lawmakers, known big time rice smugglers go unscathed and are not even summoned . We are concerned on whether our lawmakers have lost the point of the proceedings with is to aid in the crafting of relevant laws,” Tagalog said.

“The NFA  system of  joint venture importation by farmers cooperatives  and and an investor  who enjoyed the patronage of officials  had been in practice for at least 10 years  yet it was only two years ago that authorities insist that the system is illegal. It only shows the government’s neglect of rice farmers and the country’s food supply,” Tagalog said.

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