Rice importation anomaly: Ombudsman asked to probe NFA officials

CEBU, Philippines — A concerned citizen of Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City has asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate the officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Cebu over “anomalous” importation of rice.

Neil Bacungan alleged that NFA officials collect P50 to P100 per sack of rice from local importers for the issuance of import permits.

Bacungan claimed that two persons “have been asking P50 to P100 per sack from local rice importers as a condition for the issuance of import permits with bloated quotas.”

“This was carried out at the behest of NFA Administrator Jason Aquino," Bacungan said in his complaint.

Bacungan also alleged that Aquino’s executive assistant has been receiving the money.

Aside from Aquino, he also asked the anti-graft body to investigate NFA Cebu Provincial Manager Grace Rodriguez.

"Although Rodriguez said she did it under protest, she complied with Aquino's order facilitating the entry of the imported rice," the complaint further read.

Citing the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) Guidelines, Bacungan said the NFA is obliged to publish on its website the list of eligible importers and their allocations.

He said the NFA management failed to publish eligible importers violating the 2017 MAV Guidelines. —/KBQ (FREEMAN)