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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House agriculture panel to help DOJ, NBI in onion cartel probe

House agriculture panel to help DOJ, NBI in onion cartel probe

Published Jul 5, 2023 03:05 am
Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Quezon 1st district Rep. Mark Enverga has assured Malacañang that his panel will assist national agencies in the effort to clamp down on the personalities involved in the alleged onion cartel. This, after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. himself ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the smuggling, hoarding, and price manipulation of onion and other agricultural commodities. These allegations were discussed at length by the House Committee on Agriculture and Food during its hearings on the onion price surge issue from February to May this year. "The committee assures PBBM (Marcos) of our support to the DOJ and NBI by providing key information on the cartel operations gathered throughout the hearing," Enverga said. "As also instructed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, the committee will prioritize deliberations on amending the anti agricultural smuggling act to include hoarding, price manipulation, and profiteering as ecomic sabotage," he said. Further reacting to Malacañang's directive, Enverga said: "We are truly grateful to President Bongbong Marcos for supporting the position of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, with regards to our appeal to the executive department to conduct a thorough investigation on the highly probable cartel operations on agricultural products that affect both supply and price." The key difference between the investigations of the legislative branch (House) and the executive branch (DOJ, NBI) is that the latter can pursue prosecution afterward; the former may only recommend an action.

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Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. wilfrido mark enverga onion cartel
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