Cops nab rice hoarder

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines  – Police arrested a 48-year-old trader for rice hoarding who allegedly tried to bribe an arresting officer during the raid in Lucena City, Quezon, police said.

Charges of corruption of pubic official, rice hoarding and violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippine and NFA Memorandum Circular were filed against the arrested trader, Antonio Lubi, of Lucena City.

Police seized 200 sacks of NFA rice and 100 sacks of imported repacked and mislabeled powdered milk inside Lubi’s warehouse in Barangay 8, Lucena City, Friday.

The raid was conducted by joint elements of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group team and Regional Intelligence Units armed with a search warrant issued by the court.

The operation stemmed from the information given by concerned citizens that illegal delivery of NFA rice was ongoing inside Lubi’s warehouse.

During the raid, the suspect tried to bribe SPO1 Melanio Manila, with P5,000, prompting the officer to arrest and handcuffed him.   – Ed Amoroso