DA chief still enjoys Noy’s trust – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Embattled Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala still has the trust and confidence of President Aquino amid the plunder charge he is facing, a Palace official said yesterday.

“To the best of my knowledge, he still enjoys the President’s trust and confidence,” Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office told a news briefing.

Coloma said that Cabinet members have signed “performance contracts” to meet targets set by the President.

“There is concrete basis for what the concerned Cabinet secretary is doing in his department, or if he is fully compliant with the performance standards that have been set forth by the President,” Coloma explained.

Contrary to Aquino’s pronouncements since he assumed office in 2010, the country has neither attained rice self-sufficiency status nor has exported the staple.

The National Food Authority has even increased rice importation and rice smuggling remains unabated.

Coloma, however, assured the public that the government is focused on ensuring the steady supply of rice in the market.

He added the government is doing its best to curb smuggling, not just of rice.

Last week, Alcala, along with National Agribusiness Corp. president Honesto Baniqued, was charged with another case of plunder before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly pocketing P1.07 billion in public money through questionable fund disbursements.

Lawyer Argee Guevarra filed the latest case against the agriculture chief based on a 2012 Commission on Audit report.

He accused Alcala and Baniqued of committing plunder, graft, malversation of public funds and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

In October last year, Alcala was accused of plunder by peasant group Pamalakaya in connection with the alleged transfer of P200 million in pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.