MANILA, Philippines — The National Food Authority is set to file a plunder case against one of its employees over the disappearance of palay stocks valued at roughly P53 million, NFA administrator Larry Lacson said yesterday.
At a press conference, Lacson said the case involves a multi-year loss that was uncovered after intensified audits this year, and that the middle-level employee has been transferred to a different role pending the filing of charges.
“We will file very soon. When the case build-up is over, we will file a plunder case against one of our employees because of their shortcomings that we saw,” Lacson told reporters.
The NFA chief said the missing stocks likely date back to 2020 to 2021 and accumulated over several years.
He highlighted the NFA’s commitment to fighting corruption and supporting the administration’s anti-graft drive.
The plunder case will be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman within the year, added the official.
Lacson said separate administrative or criminal actions could follow depending on the ombudsman’s ruling.
The agency said the incident involves only one employee and does not affect overall rice supply.
He said the target is to end the year with 400,000 metric tons of stock, a buffer good for 12 days and enough volume to support the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program.
Lacson also provided an overview of the NFA’s ongoing internal accountability efforts, saying the agency has filed a total of 35 administrative cases so far, issued 28 preventive suspension orders and released 99 show-cause orders to erring employees.