Warehouse yields rice with animal feed ingredients

MALOLOS, Philippines  – Another rice trader faces criminal charges after a raid on his warehouse showed that broken rice intended for animal feed was mixed with imported rice.

At least 32,000 bags of rice were seized in the raid on Purefeeds Corp. in First Bulacan Industrial City in Barangay Tikay here yesterday. Sources said the warehouse held 60,000 bags of rice.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said the license of Purefeeds might also be revoked. He said it was possible that mixed and repacked rice had been distributed to the market.

“They are selling adulterated rice,” he said, noting that the old stock serve as “extenders.”

A report of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) showed that rice residue intended for animal feeds from Vietnam was being mixed with Blue Diamond rice imported from Thailand and repacked and being sold as “Golden Bee” Premium Sinadomeng rice.

Roxas said operation of the rice mill would be suspended while charges are being readied against Purefeeds Corp. He said the owners of the warehouse could also be held liable for violation of trade laws.

“The traders committed violations on the regulations of the National Food Authority, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs, “ he said.

Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan acting provincial director, said two trucks loaded with 450 sacks each of the adulterated rice were also held at the compound of the warehouse.

He said NFA officials are investigating why the trucks have NFA logo complete with license number.

The owner of the warehouse, Jojo Soliman, denied the allegations, saying they have done nothing wrong in over 50 years his family has been involved in rice trading. He said he has been in the business for 25 years, including rice importation 15 years ago.

“We have done nothing wrong, there is nothing illegal in our operation,” he told The STAR. “This is supposed to be a regular inspection.”

Soliman said that they have also been cooperating with the NFA in the exercise of its visitorial powers over rice warehouses.

Purefeeds was the 18th warehouse raided by a composite team of CIDG and NFA personnel since last week.

Three suspected rice hoarders were earlier charged with violations of Presidential Decree 4 and Republic Act 7581 for rice diversion and price manipulation, respectively, after tons of NFA rice were found in 12 warehouses in Bulacan on Sunday without the necessary permits and licenses.

Last Thursday, at least 5,000 sacks of NFA rice switched to sacks of premium commercial rice at Jommaro rice mill in Barangay Abangan Sur in Marilao town, also in Bulacan were also seized.

Officials of the NFA and the police said they would conduct surprise inspections of more rice warehouses suspected of hoarding and profiteering.

‘Mr. Kargador’

Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Roxas before leaving Purefeeds warehouse in Malolos pulled a bag of rice from a pile and carried it on his shoulder for a photo opportunity.

“Hindi na siya Mr. Palengke, Mister Kargador na,” one of the photographers said, referring to his moniker during his senatorial bid in the 2004 elections, as they took photos of the DILG chief.

Police operatives have cordoned off the warehouse since Friday, while Bulacan-based journalists were invited to cover the raid on Sunday. However, police and local officials decided to hold the press conference only yesterday because Roxas was not able to come earlier.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong defended the delay in allowing the media to enter the warehouse premises, saying they had another operation in Muntinlupa on Sunday, where two warehouses were also raided.

Palace defends Roxas

Malacañang justified Roxas’ presence during the raid of warehouses in Bulacan and Muntinlupa.

“Hoarders have been warned. Are we going after people who take advantage or create artificial increases in prices? Yes, we are going after you guys,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

Asked why Roxas was part of the raiding team along with presidential adviser on food security and agricultural modernization Francis Pangilinan, Lacierda said it was coordinated with the Philippine National Police under the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“Secretary Pangilinan and Secretary Mar Roxas discussed the manner... the strategy of ensuring that no hoarders escape,” he said.

When told it was the first time a DILG chief joined a raid, Lacierda said: “That’s the reason why, for the first time, you see hoarders being arrested.” –With Aurea Calica, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ric Sapnu