Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered newly appointed National Food Authority (NFA) officer-in-charge (OIC) Administrator Piolito Santos to give the Office of the Ombudsman all the necessary documents it needs in its investigation into the alleged improper sale of thousands of tons of NFA rice.
Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said this during a televised news briefing at state-controlled PTV4 on Friday, March 8.
“Inutos na ng ating kalihim, Secretary Tiu-Laurel Jr. sa bagong itinalagang Officer-In-Charge ng National Food Authority, si Mr. Piolito Santos, na ihanda lahat ng dokumento na kakailanganin ng Ombudsman at saka ng ating Internal Audit Service at ng independent investigating panel para masigurado na lahat ng dokumento na kakailanganin would be available for a just review; ganoon din iyong mga tao na involved (Secretary Tiu-Laurel Jr. has ordered the newly appointed Officer-In-Charge of the National Food Authority, Mr. Piolito Santos, to prepare all the documents that will be needed by the Ombudsman and also by our Internal Audit Service and the independent investigating panel to make sure that all the documents that will be needed would be available for a just review; so are those people involved),” he said.
De Mesa said the DA chief has ordered Santos to make sure that all 97 NFA warehouses have supervisors.
The Ombudsman had earlier suspended 139 NFA officials and employees over their alleged involvement in the “improper sale” of rice buffer stock.
“Nag-issue na rin ng necessary order ang ating kalihim para masigurado nga na tuluy-tuloy ang operasyon ng National Food Authority (The secretary has already issued necessary order to ensure NFA’s operation is continuous),” he added.
The agency spokesperson recently said that NFA employees next in line will sit as regional managers and branch managers, replacing suspended officials.
NFA officials and employees suspended by the Ombudsman include 12 regional managers, 27 branch managers, and 98 warehouse supervisors.
According to De Mesa, the NFA currently has at least 2,000 employees.
It can be recalled that an NFA official accused numerous agency executives of inappropriately disposing of rice buffer supplies without bidding and at rates that purportedly harmed the government.
NFA executives denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the sale followed processes.