NFA chief claims he doesn’t know David Tan

David Tan. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) administrator told the House committee panel Tuesday that he does not know the alleged rice smuggler David Tan.

In a joint agriculture and food security committee hearing, NFA administrator Orlan Calayag added that the NFA has not given import permits to Tan, who supposedly goes by the name of David Bangayan,
accused as the Goliath of rice smuggling in the country.

“I do not know Mr. Bangayan. I only met him twice, the last time during the Senate hearing (on Monday),” Calayag said.

“Base sa record, wala kaming nabigyan na import permit na siya ay kasali (Based on our record, we have not given a permit to importers that include him),” he added.

Calayag made the statement amid allegations by Anakpawis Representative Fernando Hicap that the identified rice smugglers were granted importation permits by the NFA.

“Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and NFA Administrator Calayag have a lot of explaining to do. The same entities alleged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as rice smugglers are the same entities that were granted importation permits by the NFA,” Hicap said in a statement last Monday.

Alcala was also present in the hearing but was noticeably silent about David Tan.

Both Alcala and Calayag face a plunder complaint in the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the importation last May of 205,700 metric tons of rice from Vietnam, which was allegedly overpriced by P457.2 million.

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