Romualdez says House will go after onion cartel, recommend prosecution

Papasok nitong photo sa onion cartel story ni Romualdez. Caption: Speaker Romualdez meets key lawmakers and the Bureau of Plant Industry officials to combat the onion cartel and boost agriculture.

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has assured the public that the House of Representatives would go after individuals involved in the cartel that manipulated onion prices in 2022, saying that they will not tolerate those who are part of the problem.

Romualdez made the assurance in a statement on Tuesday, a day after meeting with key lawmakers, including the committee on agriculture and food chairman and Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo and officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

During the meeting, Romualdez warned that those who profited from the onion price manipulation would face prosecution.

“Those who are part of the solution we will help; those who are part of the problem, we will not tolerate. We will go after them and make the proper recommendation for prosecution,” Romualdez said.

Enverga’s committee has conducted nine hearings on allegations of onion smuggling and hoarding, which drove prices to around P400 to P700 per kilogram in late 2022. 

Quimbo, on the other hand, exposed the scheme of the cartels — saying that a corporation effectively controls all parts of the onion industry.

Aside from Enverga and Quimbo, House committee on appropriations chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and Rizal 1st District Rep. Michael John Duavit were also present in the meeting. 

The BPI contingent, meanwhile, was led by Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban.

Romualdez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appreciated the House probe.

Marcos is the concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

“At least he knows that we are helping him as Secretary of Agriculture in stamping out these malpractices,” Romualdez said. 

The House panel has conducted the hearings after Quimbo filed a resolution and after Romualdez gave the green light to question BPI and other individuals allegedly involved in hoarding onions through cold storage facilities.

Romualdez last Sunday urged law enforcement agencies to pursue leads uncovered by the House probe, believing that this information would be crucial in tracking people involved in the price manipulation.

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