At A Glance
- The House Committee on Agriculture and Food will begin its motu proprio investigation on the alleged improper disposition of National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks on Thursday, March 7, committee chairman, Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga said.
House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food will begin its motu proprio investigation on the alleged improper disposition of National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks on Thursday, March 7.
Committee chairman, Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga said no less than Speaker Martin Romualdez has asked the panel to "make it a priority", referring to the probe.
"Of course, in light of the alleged missed disposition, of course the Speaker has always tasked the committee to probe anything. Wala pong sasantuhin, walang sisinuhin. Kaya nga po automatic na po sa amin," Enverga said in a press conference at the House of Representatives.
(We won't have any sacred cows. That's why it's automatic for us to seek an inquiry.)
"At nabanggit po niya (And he mentioned), 'Make this a priority,'" Enverga said of Romualdez. A motu proprio or voluntary inquiry is an inquiry in an of legislation that was launched sans a filed resolution.
Recently suspended over the controversy were NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco and 138 other angecy officials and employees.
The suspension order was issued following the NFA's sale of 75,000 bags of rice for P93.75 million. The rice was supposed to be part the country’s buffer stocks.
Meanwhile, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee urged President Marcos to kick out corrupt officials and employees from NFA as a way to restore public trust in the agency.
“In order to restore the trust of the public in the NFA, there needs to be a revamp and the first step to that is to remove all officials involved in anomalies,” he said.
“Malaking kasalanan ang paglustay sa supply ng bigas, lalo pa napakamahal ng presyo ng pagkain at mga pangunahing bilihin ngayon,” Lee added.
(Wasting rice supply is a huge sin, especially at this time of elevated prices of food and basic goods.)