P32.5-M rice seized in Malabon raid

MANILA, Philippines -   Agents from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) confiscated at least 25,000 sacks of Vietnam rice worth P32.5 million during a raid in Malabon City over the weekend.

CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao said elements of the Task Force Maverick raided a warehouse on Pineapple Road in Potrero. Task Force Maverick chief Senior Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia said the warehouse is not accredited with the National Food Authority (NFA) and is not authorized to store imported rice.

During the raid, the warehouse caretaker, Ronnie Malvar, also failed to produce pertinent documents that authorized them to store imported rice or that the warehouse is an NFA bonded warehouse, Sermonia added.

Pagdilao said a Task Force Maverick team headed by Chief Inspector Edgar Batoon served the search warrant on Yong Lang Li, Willard Sichangco, and Anthony Chua at the warehouse Saturday.

The search warrant was issued on July 15 by Manila regional trial court Judge Amor Reyes.