DOJ finds probable cause to indict Bangayan, 5 others

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the filing of charges against suspected rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan and five others over their alleged involvement in using dummies for their rice importations with the aim of increasing the prices of rice.

In a 14-page review resolution, the DOJ said it found probable cause to indict Bangayan and his five co-respondents of monopolies and combinations in restraint of trade under Article 186, paragraph 3 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

The DOJ noted the case relates to the anomalous transactions allegedly entered into by the respondents through the employment of farmers’ organizations as their dummies in the bidding of importations conducted by the National Food Authority (NFA).

“For that reason, the above-named respondents, who were engaged in the importation of rice, with the intention of manipulating and increasing the market price of the rice supply and for the purpose of making transactions prejudicial to lawful commerce, by combining, conspiring, and employing the farmers’ cooperatives to participate in the bidding of importation of such commodity, should be held liable under Article 186, paragraph 3, of the RPC which is further aggravated by the fact that the subject imported article is a prime necessity,” read the resolution dated Nov. 5 and signed by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Miguel Gudio Jr.

Bangayan’s five co-respondents are Elizabeth Faustino; spouses David Lim and Judilynne Lim; Eleanor Rodriguez; and Leah Echeveria.

“In addition, there is evidence in the present case to support the indictment of respondent Bangayan for violation of C.A. (Commonwealth Act) No. 142 (An Act to Regulate the Use of Aliases), as amended by R.A. No. 6085, for the unauthorized use of the alias ‘David Tan’,” added the resolution.