Grecon head denies report on rice lack

MANILA, Philippines -The president of the Confederation of Grains Retailers Association of the Philippines (GRECON) has denied a report that came out in The STAR yesterday that warned of a possible rice shortage in Mindanao.GRECON) has denied a report that came out in The STAR yesterday that warned of a possible rice shortage in Mindanao.

In a letter to The STAR, GRECON president Jaime Magbanua denied he had released a statement that was the basis of the report titled “Retailers warn of rice shortage in Mindanao” written by Perseus Echeminada.

Echeminada said his report was based on a statement released by the group to journalists, and which was used by several newspapers.

Magbanua, however, denied he had released a statement to Echeminada or to anyone else.

Magbanua said Echeminada had not interviewed him, and he has not met the reporter.

In the report, Magbanua was quoted as saying that the lack of action from the government on the issue could trigger panic buying.

Magbanua, in the report, was apparently expressing his concern amid the assurance of the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority of sufficient rice supply.

But Magbanua said the statements attributed to him in the report were fabricated.