Ombud to look into missing NFA rice

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Visayas Ombudsman will conduct a fact-finding investigation on the report that the warehouse of the National Food Authority (NFA) 7 in Badian, Cebu lost sacks of rice amounting to P10 million.

Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol said they already docketed the newspaper report as basis of their investigation.

Earlier, the NFA Central Office sent a demand letter to Badian NFA officer Benedicto Bernal ordering him to pay P10.6 million within 15 working days.

If he fails, Bernal will be facing administrative or criminal charges.

NFA information officer Lucy Rosales told the media that Bernal received the said letter on November 16, 2012.

The P10 million is the value of the 4,000 to 5,000 bags of rice that went missing.

“The demand letter has a process and a certain period was given,” she said adding Bernal has to settle the issue first.

NFA-7 made assured though that the region has sufficient stock of rice for five months.

It was the Commission of Audit (COA) that discovered that hundred of stocks were missing after they conducted an inventory.

Rosales said they are still waiting for Bernal’s explanation on the matter.

Aside from the demand letter, NFA Regional Director Efren Sabong issued a letter to Bernal which listed the shortage of rice stocks.

From March 16, 2007 to June 1, 2012, Bernal handled P17.5 million worth of imported rice and P3,457.76 million of imported iron-fortified rice.

Based on the physical inventory, it was established that the shortage was more than 194,000 kilos of imported rice and more than 108,000 kilos of iron-forfeited rice.

There are 16 warehouses in Region-7 and eight are in Cebu  located in Banilad, Tudela in Camotes Island, Badian, Santa Fe in Bantayan Island and Bogo City.

Cebu City has two warehouses,  in the North Reclamation Area and in Barangay Mambaling.

Apostol said aside from Bernal they will also look into any possible lapses on the part of COA and NFA.

If they find probable cause, Apostol said the people behind the shortage will be facing criminal and administrative case.  (FREEMAN)