NBI files raps vs rice smuggling suspect Davidson Bangayan, 12 others

David Tan. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday filed before the Department of Justice a criminal complaint against suspected rice smuggler  Davidson Bangayan also known as David Tan.

Bangayan was slapped with a case for monopolies and restraint of trade and bid fixing. Also included in the complaint are Judilyne Lim, Elizabeth Faustino, Eleanor Rodriguez and Leah Echeveria.

Bangayan is facing a separate complaint for violation of Commonwealth Act No. 142 or an Act to Regulate the Use of Aliases.

Also named respondents are Eugene Pioquinto, Jason Colocado (Pure Country Trading), Michael Villanueva (Jaded Ranch Grains and Cereals Trading), Denis Gonzales (St Dominique Rice and Food Enterprises), Willy Sy (Montevalo Enterprises), Sandra Lim (Lexant International Trading), Gil Calipayan (King Casey Trading), and Inigo Espiritu (Nemic Fussion Rice and Grains Enterprises).

Investigation by the NBI showed that the farmer cooperatives and farmer organizations and single proprietorship were mere dummies of rice traders and importers where one group is led byBangayan while another group in Cebu is led by spouses David and Judilyne Lim.

Bangayan and the Lim couple, according to the NBI, bankrolled the bids of the farmer cooperatives and farmers’ organizations to be able to comply with the requirements set by the National Food Authority.

The cooperatives also admitted that they did not have financial capacity to join the bidding for rice importation. They added that they were not even aware that there would be a bidding. The representatives said they were also not aware that they were violating the law.