House Speaker Martin Romualdez wants to get tough against the hoarders of onion and garlic, who according to the official are committing "economic sabotage".

“We received information that these people are hoarding onion, and more recently even garlic, to create an artificial scarcity in supply and induce price increases,” Romualdez, Leyte’s 1st district congressman, said in a statement Sunday, Feb. 5.

He noted reports that despite the ongoing harvest season and the entry of imported onions retail prices remained high.

As such, Romualdez said he has instructed the House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga to conduct an investigation and, if warranted by the evidence, recommend the filing of appropriate criminal charges against the people behind this scheme.

“This is economic sabotage,” Romualdez said, adding that the House panel “will study the option of recommending to the President the calibrated importation of onion and garlic as a means to force these unscrupulous individuals to unload their stocks and drive down the prices to alleviate the burden on the consumers".

However, Speaker Romualdez pointed out that such importation should not in any way prejudice the welfare of the local farmers.

“It is very important to ensure that any importation should consist of such quantity and be done well ahead of the harvest season to avoid any adverse effect on the livelihood of our local farmers," stressed the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats president.

Apart from the investigation, Romualdez wants daily monitoring of the prices of onion and garlic in the local markets.

“People are still trying to recover from the pandemic. The last thing we need is an unreasonable rise in food prices," he said.

In the meantime, the House leader also said the government should equally address the smuggling of onion and other agricultural products that stifles the local industry.