MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice on Wednesday ordered the filing of criminal charges against Davidson Bangayan, known as "rice smuggling king" David Tan, and former National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Angelito Banayo and 10 others.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima approved the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) recommendations to charge Bangayan, Banayo, NGA bids chairman Jose Cordero and employees Cecilia Tan, Gilberto Lauengco, Carlito Go and Judy Carol Dansal.
Owners of single proprietorships and officers of farmers and cooperatives David and Judilyn Lim, Elizabeth Faustino, Eleonor Rodriguez, and Leila Echeveria were also ordered charged.
The respondents are accused of violating Republic Act 9184 of the Government Procurement Act over anomalies in bidding and Article 186 of the Revised Penal Code penalizing monopolies and restraint of trade.
"By their act of combining, conspiring and agreeing with one another in the manipulation of the bidding process for the award of Rice Import Allocation from the NFA, they substantially and effectively cornered the supply of imported rice in the local market," the NBI said in a report dated July 30, 2014.
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The NBI conducted the investigation into alleged rampant rice smuggling activities of government officials and so-called financiers—the subject of a Senate panel hearing last year.
De Lima also approved charges against Tan for using a "fictitious name" penalized under Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code and the Commonwealth Act 142. - PNA with Camille Diola