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THE
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Task Force on
Antirice Hoarding on Tuesday filed criminal complaints
before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 13 rice
traders for allegedly violating Republic Act 7581, or
The Price Act, and other laws that prohibit hoarding and
other similar offenses.
Justice
Secretary Raul Gonzalez, in an interview, said he
immediately directed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to
put on hold-departure the 13 persons to prevent them
from leaving the country.
Those
charged were Anthony Choi Angeles, Romeo Mariano Jr.,
Eleonor Rodriguez, Meynardo Guevarra, Francisco Dio,
Arnel Lagonoy, Mary Ann Magno, Geonell Vin Centeno,
Delia Barreda, Sofia Guzman, Prestifero Prado, Leonides
Manalo and Lydia Supremido.
At the
same time, National Police Director General Avelino
Razon Jr. ordered on Tuesday all regional and police
offices to intensify their operations against hoarders
in order to ensure the availability of the staple.
The PNP
chief issued the order following a report of another
apprehension of more than 3,000 sacks of rice by
policemen in Cavite province on Monday.
In its
report to Razon, the Cavite Provincial Police Office
said its men raided an apparel warehouse in Silang,
Cavite, and confiscated a total of 3,642 sacks of
Thailand
and commercial rice.
Raided
was the warehouse of Boardwalk Business Rental in
barangay Maguyam, Silang town. The warehouse is owned by
couple Melvin and Veronica Madera.
The
Cavite PNP said the operations were prompted by reports
of rice hoarding by the couple.
During
the raid, the policemen also discovered 24 cones of sack
thread, two weighing scales, 5,000 different empty
sacks, 99 empty NFA sacks and equipment used in the
repacking of rice.
“There
was no permit to stock the rice in the area,” the Cavite
police said.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned
foreigners against manipulating the rice supply as it
filed charges of violating the Immigration Act against
two Chinese suspected of being members of a cartel
cornering the rice supply in Isabela.
Acting
Immigration Commissioner Roy Almoro identified the
aliens as Pan Zhide and Lin Jianye.
The two
were charged with violating the conditions of their stay
by engaging in rice trading in Isabela although their
working visas permit them to work for trading companies
in
Manila.
Almoro
said they will be deported and blacklisted and banned
from reentering the Philippines.
Lawyer
Floro Balato Jr., BI spokesman, said the two were among
the six Chinese investigated by a team of BI operatives
that BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan sent to Isabela
two weeks ago. The BI is investigating reports that
foreign rice traders are cornering the supply of rice in
the province.
Members
of the BI law enforcement division apprehended the
aliens inside two warehouses in Alicia, Isabela, on
April 5.
A
preliminary investigation will be conducted by the DOJ
Antihoarding Task Force headed by Senior State
Prosecutor Roberto Lao to determine whether there is
probable cause to pursue the filing of criminal charges
against the 13.
The
traders face charges of violation of the provisions of
RA 7581 which prohibits price manipulation through the
commission of hoarding, cornering or hoarding of grains,
unauthorized possession of government rice and diversion
of government stocks by retailers authorized to sell
government stocks, unauthorized rebagging or resacking
of government rice in commercial sacks, selling or
lending government stocks to another grains businessman,
lack of required signboard and lack of guaranty bond and
fire insurance.
The 13
rice traders could face a maximum of 15 years and may be
required to pay P2 million fine if convicted.
This
developed as the Bureau of Customs (BOC) also lodged
with the DOJ five cases involving smuggling of wheat
flour and sugar, illegal shipment of onions and
falsification of business permits.
Customs
Commissioner Napoleon Morales personally filed the
complaints before the office of Chief State Prosecutor
Jovencito Zuño.
The
Customs office filed two cases against the directors and
officers of Rubills International Inc. for
undervaluation, underweight and lack of necessary import
permit from the Bureau of Food and Drugs on their
shipments of wheat flour valued approximately at P30.8
million with duties and taxes of P2.59 million.
The BOC
identified the Rubills officers as Francisco Billones,
Angel Deray, Mary Lucille Billones, Susana de la Cruz
Go, Anacleto Sanchez, Roberto Amposta, Oscar Torres,
Maria Catapang Jumento, Rosalio Teves, Leonardo de la
Pas and Hannah Aileen Lim Hernandez, and Meynardo Banayo,
licensed customs broker.
Another
complaint was filed by the BOC against Medardo Banglos
involving unlawful importation of sugar consigned to
him. The sugar was made to appear as locally produced in
order to evade payment of duties and taxes and the
required import permit from the Sugar Regulatory
Authority (SRA).
Customs
intelligence agents apprehended the shipment at the Port
of Manila on board a Superferry 09 from Cotabato City.
The shipment was discovered based on its markings and
labels that it originated from Thailand. (With Paul
Atienza) |
