Gov’t to continue monitoring importation of basic goods

MANILA, Philippines - There is no letup in President Aquino’s monitoring of abuses in the import and trade of basic commodities, as he wants to make sure unscrupulous businessmen and their government protectors are caught and punished, Malacañang said yesterday.

The Palace made the assurance after the Department of Justice on Wednesday blamed collusion between a garlic importer and some government officials for the sharp rise in garlic prices a few months ago.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing that the DOJ’s finding “is the outcome of the continuing efforts of the government to stop abuses that produce disadvantage and detriment to our populace.”

He said that last month, the President called meetings among concerned agencies to determine the cause of the unusual movements in the prices of prime commodities.

Coloma also said the President has instructed government agencies, especially the Department of Agriculture (DA), to focus on ensuring stable prices of goods ahead of the Christmas season.

As for those who have violated the law by engaging in hoarding and price manipulation, cases have been filed against them based on the President’s instruction, Coloma said.

DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima said it was not shortage in stocks but collusion between government officials and traders in the garlic industry that had sharply pushed up garlic prices.

The DOJ report alleged that a certain Lilia Cruz, alias Leah Cruz, cornered at least 75 percent of the total garlic importation in the country with the help of unnamed officials.

As a result, garlic prices soared to as high as P400 per kilo in Quezon City in June, and averaging over P200 in other markets.

The price spikes represented a 74-percent increase from prices recorded in the same period last year and a 100-percent rise from average prices.

“That is the outcome of the continuing efforts of government to stop abuses that produce disadvantage and detriment to our populace,” Coloma said, adding they would not allow unusual price movements to occur again.

Coloma said law enforcement agencies had also raided warehouses of rice traders and filed appropriate cases against those found manipulating prices.

Coloma said further examination of De Lima’s findings would also be made.

De Lima said that based on the DOJ’s findings, only one group of garlic traders got most of the import permits.