The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) was asked on Sunday, March 9, to file cases before the Sandiganbayan against former and current officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) reportedly involved in alleged anomalies in the rice industry.

"The Ombudsman must resolve these cases without delay,” said Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) president and chairman Rosendo So in a statement.

“If no one is prosecuted before the Sandiganbayan, then those involved in such anomalies will not be deterred," So warned.

With this, So also urged Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires to make public all the former and current officials of the DA and NFA that the OMB is investigating.

“We strongly urge Ombudsman Martires to unveil the identities of the Department of Agriculture officials, including those at the graft-ridden NFA, both past and present, who have been involved in graft and corruption at the agency, in the interest of public transparency,” So said.  

So recounted that the OMB suspended 139 NFA officials and employees including former administrator Roederico Bioco over allegations of being involved in the irregular sale of 75,000 bags of rice in the agency warehouses to private traders without undergoing the required public bidding.

Citing a complaint letter submitted to the Office of the President in February 2024, So said NFA Assistant Administrator for Operations Lemuel Pagayunan alleged that Bioco and other NFA officials sold 75,000 bags of rice valued P93.75 million to G4 Rice Mill San Miguel Corp. and NBK San Pedro Rice Mill without the approval of the NFA Council.

So also said that Pagayunan alleged that Bioco and NFA Region 4 Regional Manager Alwin Uy directly engaged with commercial rice traders without allowing other bidders to participate.

Pagayunan also claimed that Bioco sold the rice supply due to being "deteriorating or aging stocks" even though the rice was reportedly still fit for consumption, So added.

So asked the OMB an update on this case since the anti-graft agency has already lifted the preventive suspension against 100 NFA officials and employees.

 “So we are inquiring with the Ombudsman about the progress of this case since it involves public interest,” said So.

Apart from this case, the SINAG official also sought from the OMB updates on other cases under investigation.

“We want to know what has happened with these other cases,” So said.

He recalled that there was another administrator being investigated for purchasing rice but subsequently authorized rice imports.