5 NFA execs face raps over Nueva Ecija palay scam

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – Five officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Nueva Ecija face charges in connection with the alleged misclassification of some 32,00 bags of palay.

A four-member probe team of the NFA regional office led by Marcelino Villar Jr. has recommended the filing of charges against solar dryer engineer Edmar Torres, quality control officers Cesar Paul de Guia and Adam Rayo, pest control officer Leo Thereso Ramos and acting provincial quality assurance officer Jimmy Mallari.

NFA Region 3 director and concurrent acting NFA provincial manager Amadeo de Guzman yesterday said five other NFA personnel, whom he did not identify, would also be charged.

Asked on the fate of relieved NFA provincial manager George Roca and assistant provincial manager Daniel Valenzuela, De Guzman said it would depend on the extent of the officials’ involvement in the alleged anomaly.

De Guzman said the procurement cost, which should only be P17.9 million, jumped to P27.8 million because of the misclassification.

NFA Administrator Renan Dalisay ordered the relief of Roca along with 15 other NFA personnel.

Renan also directed the NFA’s security and investigation services, internal audit services and technical research and services departments to conduct a parallel probe.