Aquino orders prosecution of garlic hoarders

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III personally directed his Cabinet to deal with hoarders’ artificial price hikes, Malacanang said Thursday.

“President Aquino directed (Agriculture) Secretary Proceso Alcala and Secretary Francis Pangilinan (Presidential Assistant for  Food Security  and Agricultural Modernization) to coordinate closely with the Department of Justice in the further prosecution of those involved in garlic hoarding and price manipulation,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a Palace press briefing.

He said the President also asked Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo to work with the two officials by responding promptly to “unusual” price spikes through the National Price Coordinating Council.

Coloma said Aquino gave his instructions during a meeting on Wednesday afternoon with some of his Cabinet members.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima and Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy of the DOJ-Office for Competition reportedly briefed Aquino and other Cabinet members of the results of the investigation on garlic prices.

“According to Secretary De Lima, the NBI shall pursue the leads and gather further evidence to prosecute the personalities who are involved in garlic hoarding and price manipulation including officials from the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant Industry who may have been in collusion with them,” Coloma said.

Last week, De Lima said they are considering filing economic sabotage cases against those involved in garlic price manipulation.

Among those being investigated are importer-trader Lilia M. Cruz and officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry.

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