The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed a complaint on Monday
against six people reportedly involved in onion smuggling in the
country.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in a press conference on Monday
that government employees are among those facing profiteering and
stockpiling accusations.
"Kasama and mga opisyal ng gobyerno dito sapagkat ang tingin namin sila ay
lumalabas na merong sala sa pagkakataong ito," stated DOJ Secretary Jesus
Crispin Remulla.
[Translation: Government officials are included since we believe they are at
fault in this case.]
DOJ U.S. Geronimo Sy indicated that the complaint came from a private
cooperative selling around 8,000 bags of onions to the government-owned and
controlled firm Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) in December 2022.
According to the NBI, each bag held at least 25 kilos and the price per
kilogram topped 500, despite the fact that farmgate prices for onions at the
time were barely below 20.
"Ang bentahan sumobra ng 500," Sy explained. "Ang sabi, walang stock pero
nung kinontrata ng P500 plus per kilo, nagkaroon ng stock." [Translation:
The sale was more than P500. There was a claim that there was no stock, but
when a transaction was struck for $500 or more per kg, the stocks
materialized.]
Sy also stated that the responders are facing concerns about fraudulent
documents submitted during the bidding process.
To avoid prejudicing the prosecutors' investigation, DOJ authorities did not
identify the responders.
More cases are on the way.
The NBI lawsuit, according to the Justice chief, is only the first of many
to be filed in relation to the hoarding and smuggling of onions, which led
to a price rise of up to P700 per kilogram in late 2022.
"This is one of the cases that have been filed and are being developed by
the DOJ; other cases will be filed," Remulla added. "Marami pa kaming
tinitingnan na violations na considered economic crimes. Ito'y simula pa
lang -- hanggang sa maging malinaw sa lahat, hindi pwede ginagawang price
manipulations sa merkado."
[Translation: This is only one of the cases that the DOJ is working on.
There will be other cases filed. We are still investigating several
infractions classified as economic crimes. This is only the beginning --
until everyone understands that price manipulation is not permitted in the
market.]
In July, the DOJ director stated that the department was constructing an
economic sabotage case against a network of industry actors participating in
the alleged onion cartel. Remulla mentioned that they were considering six
to seven different personalities.
This came shortly after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DA's leader,
authorized the DOJ and the NBI to investigate onion smuggling and other
agricultural items, saying the crime was tantamount to terrorism.
This article first appeared on CNN.
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