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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ben Tulfo vows to fight scammers targeting rice farmers

Ben Tulfo vows to fight scammers targeting rice farmers

Published Mar 28, 2025 11:40 am

Senatorial candidate Ben Tulfo vowed to fight against scams allegedly being committed by agricultural traders against rice farmers during harvest season.

PALAY HARVEST.jpg
(MB file photo)

Tulfo said this when asked in a television interview regarding his plans to address the agriculture sector as well as food security.

"We need to watch over the farmers during the harvest season. We must be ready for the visiting traders entering the agricultural regions. It's essential to understand their modus operandi, which they use to exploit the farmers," he added.

He disclosed that these traders would buy up the bulk of the farmers' produce, for example, by offering P2 million to entice them. According to Tulfo, they would then show the farmers new P500 bills, totaling half a million pesos, supposedly from the bank.

Next, they would promise that within a week, the remaining P1.5 million could be cashed, with two checks of P750,000 each.

It would then turn out that the information provided by traders is bogus while the guarantor they use is in on the scam. Lastly, farmers would find out that they were provided with bounced checks, that's why Tulfo said that they come to him for assistance.

"Farmers should be monitored by local governments in agricultural regions and municipal agricultural officers should be deployed while barangays in these areas should collaborate," he said.

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