Rodrigo duterte. FILE PHOTO
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has asked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to take over the investigation of the reported entry of fake rice in the city, following reports that sacks of rice of “suspicious” origin are being peddled as “local rice” from rice-producing towns of Bansalan in Davao del Sur and Banaybanay in Davao Oriental.
“Whether that is local or imported, you will need to take another step of investigation. I have to turn this over to CIDG because this is not an ordinary police work anymore,” the mayor said.
“This is not just a small operation or distribution because it has reached so many places,” Duterte said, as samples of rice from unverified sources were turned over to the National Food Authority (NFA) in Taguig for laboratory analysis.
“I am ordering (Davao City Police Director Vicente) Danao to turn over all available evidence, if at all, to CIDG for CIDG to take over the investigation,” he said as he asked traders not to dispose of their newest stocks yet to allow authorities to examine them.
But until the results of the clinical analysis come out, he said he would refrain from saying anything to avoid creating panic.
“I don’t want to unnecessarily drag people and establishments into an issue that is not clear to us,” he said during his Sunday television show Gikan sa masa, para sa masa.
He reiterated his warnings to traders, saying they would be held responsible for any fake rice found in their possession.
“You must know what you are selling,” Duterte said. “You cannot just wash hands if the fake rice is found in your hands. Make sure that what you are selling to the public is safe to eat. You fail on that and you are liable.”