400 sack of rice laid to waste in Antique

Some of the 400 sacks of rice intended for typhoon victims in Antique province but which were declared unfit for human consumption after these were not distributed. —ALBERT MAMORA JR / CONTRIBUTOR

ILOILO CITY—At least 400 sacks of rice intended for typhoon victims in Antique province had been deemed unfit for human consumption and are likely to be thrown away or turned into animal feed, according to a top regional official of the National Food Authority (NFA).

“We can use these for feeds,” said Rex Estoperez, NFA Western Visayas manager. “We cannot risk the safety and health of people,” he said.

Some of the rice, which had formed into muddy cakes, could be turned into compost, said Estoperez.

The sacks of rice had been stored in two toilets of the Evelio B. Javier Sports Complex in the capital town of San Jose since early last year.

Former governor Exequiel Javier and incumbent Gov. Rhodora Cadiao have been pointing fingers at each other over who is responsible for the waste of rice that had been bought for victims of typhoons in the province.

The Ombudsman has dismissed a malversation complaint against Javier, former provincial administrator Efren Esclavilla and former administrative aide Art Teem Gidaya in relation to the purchase of the NFA rice.

The provincial government had failed to pay NFA for 900 sacks of rice worth P1.2 million.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales directed the field investigation office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the non-use of the 400 sacks of rice.

Possible violation

The Ombudsman said in a Sept. 8 resolution that the non-use of the rice “must be investigated” for possible violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The complaint for malversation of public funds or property against Javier and other respondents was filed by Reynaldo Alcalde and Wilson Geronimo who accused the officials of failing to account and pay for 900 sacks of rice.

But in their joint counter-affidavit cited by the Ombudsman resolution, the respondents said the rice was accounted for and purchased according to law.

Accounted for

Five hundred sacks of rice were bought during Typhoon “Ruby” on Dec. 4, 2014 and

were distributed to residents of 15 towns, according to the respondents.

Another 400 sacks of rice were procured from the NFA and intended for survivors

of Typhoon “Seniang” on

Dec. 30, 2014.

Javier and his co-respondents claimed in their counter-affidavit that the 400 sacks of rice were not distributed because the typhoon changed direction and spared the province from devastation.