Senate releases 5 of 6 rice traders

MANILA, Philippines - Five of the six rice traders placed under Senate custody in connection with a probe on the rice smuggling activity in Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) were allowed to go home yesterday after answering the senators’ queries on the issue.

Only one rice trader, Magdangal Diego Bayani III, remained in Senate detention for refusing to provide details about his businessman-partner in the rice importation.

Bayani is an executive of rice importing firm St. Andrews Field Grains and Cereal Trading based in Pasay City. He was arrested last Oct. 17 and has since remained under Senate custody.

The Senate has ordered the release of Juanito David, Maximo Hernandez, Elpidio Mendoza, Emily Alabada and Crisanta Reyes, who all appeared at the committee hearing last Wednesday to avoid embarrassment of getting arrested by authorities.

The five rice traders, who sought the assistance of their province-mate Candaba Mayor Gerry Pelayo for their surrender, vowed to return to the Senate once the committee on agriculture resumes hearing on the SBMA rice smuggling.