Group seeks probe of NFA administrator over ‘illegal’ storage of imported rice

A CONSUMER rights group has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to probe for possible violation of the Anti Graft Law the administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA) and a private port for the illegal storage of imported rice.

In his affidavit submitted to the Ombudsman on Oct. 19, Jayson Luna, a member of the board of directors of the National Coalition of Filipino Consumers (NCFC) alleged that NFA has been using Harbour Center Port Terminal (HCPTI) to store imported rice without proper authority.

NCFC is a staunch advocate of consumer rights protection and other issues affecting Filipino consumers including rice smuggling.

He said NFA Administrator Renan Dalisay” has not acted on the illegal act despite knowledge of this illegal storage of imported rice.”

He said this is a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019.

“We received reports of hundreds of sacks of rice being hauled in and out of the HCPTI facilities in Manila. After verifying these reports, we agreed to put this issue in public as it involves substantial public interest,” he said.

Luna said NFA admitted in a press statement posted on its website that NFA is using HCPTI’s facilities for trans-shipment of imported rice, under the government-to-government rice importation program.”

Luna pointed out that the government has accredited facilities like the International Container Services Terminal Inc. (ICSTI) and the government-operated South Harbor.

He is questioning why the imported rice were “not stored in NFA accredited facilities considering that we are in the lean months, meaning these warehouses are not filled to capacity.”