MANILA, Philippines - Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Francis Pangilinan ordered yesterday the filing of charges against the owner of a warehouse in Iloilo where 12 workers were caught transferring what was believed to be National Food Authority (NFA) rice into commercial sacks.
Dennis Devicente is the owner of Rescha Marketing, which has an NFA license for warehousing, transporting, retail and wholesale of rice.
He and his workers will be charged for violation of Presidential Decree No. 4 or Diversion and Illegal Distribution of NFA rice and Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act.
Pangilinan was in Iloilo yesterday, a day after members of the National Bureau of Investigation raided the warehouse in Leganes town, where 1,047 sacks of “repacked” rice were seized.
“I hope this would serve as warning to those rice traders. We will confiscate your rice and you will lose your license…. Do not test us,” he said.