President Marcos said the involvement of National Food Authority (NFA) officials in the alleged anomalous sale of NFA rice calls for an examination of NFA measures that may have been ignored and ultimately led to the controversy.

Marcos said this after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the suspension of 139 NFA officials and employees amid ongoing investigations into the alleged disadvantageous sale of rice buffer stocks.

In response to questions from Manila-based media, the President said there was more to the issue.

"The situation, actually, does not only involve the anomalous sale of NFA rice," he said prior to his return to Manila on Wednesday, March 6.

"It also is an examination of some of the procedures within the NFA that were undertaken without board approval and the proper discussion within the NFA, the DA, and the rest of the Cabinet," he added.

Marcos said implementing the Ombudsman's suspension order was the "safe measure" to address the issue and review the NFA's rules.

"We have taken the safe measure of suspending all of those who have been shown to may have been involved in any of these wrongdoings such as the anomalous sale, but also the cavalier way in which the procedures that have been set out in the rules have been ignored," he said.

Among those suspended by the Ombudsman for up to six months are NFA administrator Roderico Bioco, assistant administrator for operations John Robert Hermano, 12 regional managers, 27 branch managers, and 98 warehouse supervisors throughout the country.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he will take over as NFA administrator while those second-in-command to the suspended officials will temporarily take charge to avoid service disruptions.

“The preventive suspension would allow the Ombudsman to secure all documents and other evidence relating, but not limited to, the sale of rice buffer stocks that is greatly disadvantageous to the government,” he said.

“I will be in charge and it will be business as usual at NFA. We cannot, even in the face of this investigation, allow our fellow Filipinos to be deprived of government services they deserve,” he added.