DA, traders ‘connived’ to hoard garlic, probed

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation will probe deeper into the alleged collusion between some agriculture officials and businessmen in manipulating garlic prices, Malacañang said yesterday.

President Aquino informed Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and food security czar Francis Pangilinan of the development during a meeting last Wednesday, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.

The NBI has been tasked to confirm reports that DA officials, along with officials of its attached agency Bureau of Plant Industry, had connived with a cartel to create an artificial shortage and push up prices of garlic.

“The NBI shall pursue the leads and gather further evidence to prosecute the personalities who are involved in garlic hoarding and price manipulation, including officials from the DA and BPI who may have been in collusion with them,” Coloma told a news briefing.

The President also advised Alcala and Pangilinan to “coordinate closely with the Department of Justice in the further prosecution of those involved in garlic hoarding and price manipulation.”

Aquino has also instructed Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo to “work closely” with Alcala and Pangilinan to “ensure faster response to unusual increases in the prices of rice and other commodities through the National Price Coordinating Council.” The DOJ has jurisdiction over the NBI.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the probe being readied would focus on pinpointing those behind the price manipulation.

Early this month, the NBI said it was looking into the criminal liability of businesswoman Lilia Cruz and several others tagged in the alleged cartelization in the garlic industry.

The DOJ report showed that Cruz cornered at least 75 percent of the country’s total garlic importation using permits issued by the BPI.

De Lima said among the charges being considered are economic sabotage and monopoly under Republic Act 7581 (Price Act) and Revised Penal Code.

Last June, prices of garlic reached a high of P287 per kilo or a 74-percent increase from prices last year and double the current average prices.—  Philippine Star News Service/NSA