NFA chief resigns - report

MANILA, Philippines - National Food Authority Administrator Orlan Calayag has resigned from his post, reports said Monday.

Quoting NFA spokesman Rex Estoperes, a radio report said Calayag submitted his resignation letter to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and food security czar Francis Pangilinan last May 8.

The report said that Calayag submitted the courtesy resignation to give Pangilinan a free hand in choosing the next NFA chief.

Pangilinan was appointed food security czar by President Benigno Aquino III to cleanse the four agencies under the Department of Agriculture, which have been plagued by controversies and anomalies in recent months.

Calayag assumed the post of NFA administrator in January last year.

Meanwhile, the lawyer who filed plunder charges against Calayag and Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala before the Office of the Ombudsman said he welcomes the NFA chief's resignation.

"I urge him to come out clean and blow the whistle on the involvement of other agriculture officials in corruption and smuggling activities," lawyer Argee Guevarra said.

Guevarra also called on Alcala to quit his post.