DTI drops profiteering case against Delta Milling

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be dropping its profiteering case against Delta Milling Industries Inc while the remaining 10 millers including Universal Robina Corp and San Miguel Mills have asked the trade department to give them more time to answer the profiteering charges.

In an interview after the first preliminary conference at the DTI-National Capital Region (NCR) office late Tuesday, Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection Executive Director Victorio Dimagiba said that they will be dropping the profiteering complaint against Delta Milling after the company agreed to sell flour at P650 per bag.

Other millers sell flour at P740 per bag.

Meanwhile, Dimagiba said the 10 remaining millers were unable to submit their counteraffidavit last Tuesday. “All of them said they need more time before they can submit because they did not understand the preliminary order,” Dimagiba told reporters.

According to Dimagiba, all the millers were represented by lawyers during the hearing presided by Assistant Secretary Angel Pelayo.

 “We (DTI) were prepared. We are on track. We have given the body the list of our evidence and potential witness,” Dimagiba said. He said their evidence is the US wheat report. If needed, they will be calling on Gardenia Philippines president Simplicio Umali and Philippine Association of Flour Millers (PAFMIL) Executive Director Ric Pinca as witnesses.

“This is the first time a profiteering case is lodged against manufacturers. This is a landmark case. We are happy with the way things are going,” Dimagiba said. If proven guilty of profiteering the firms will face fines of up to P2 million.

The other respondents were Morning Star Milling Corp., Phil. Foremost Milling Corp., General Milling Corp., Liberty Flour Mills, Pilmico Foods Corp., Phil Flour Mills, Republic Flour Milling Corp., and Wellington Flour Mills.