Ombudsman probes BPI exec over garlic import permits

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) is under investigation for his alleged involvement in the issuance of garlic import permits.

BPI director Clarito Barron should be investigated for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, the field investigation office (FIO) of the Office of the Ombudsman said on Thursday.

The FIO said Barron should also be suspended while the investigation is ongoing.

Barron was accused of receiving P240,000 in exchange for the release and approval of two import permits.

“The permits will not be processed unless there is a note or input from Barron allowing the permits to be processed,” a vegetable importer-exporter who testified during a fact-finding investigation by the FIO said.

“The giving of money or payment to secure import permits has been a prevalent practice in the BPI,” the witness added.

The FIO said Barron’s actions “fell short of that stringent standard of conduct demanded from everyone connected with the government.”

The National Bureau of Investigation filed a complaint against BPI officials in 2014 over alleged hoarding and cartel-like activities in the garlic trading business.