No sufficient evidence to charge Alcala in garlic mess–De Lima
MANILA, Philippines–Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday said there is still insufficient evidence to file a case against Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala who was implicated in the racket to manipulate the price of garlic.
Alcala heads the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) which was created in 2012 to probe the sudden increase in the prices of garlic.
Members of NGAT are representatives from various government agencies, private sector and the academe, with the private sector composition coming mostly from farmer’s cooperatives and associations.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Competition already recommended the abolition of the NGAT because it did not help mitigate but only worsened the prices of garlic in the country.
De Lima, however, said “there is still insufficient evidence gathered by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) with respect to Secretary Alcala.”
RELATED STORIES
Article continues after this advertisementGov’t officials, traders face raps for garlic price surge
