DOJ presses raps vs rice hoarders

MANILA - Seventeen individuals will face charges in court for the alleged re-bagging and sale of rice of National Food Authority (NFA) in Bulacan, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

Set to be charged for violating Section 5(2) of Price Act of 1992 are Juancho San Luis, Roel Bulalaque, Jose Grimio, Delfin Remogat, Antonio Gonzales, Ronnie Esplana, Antero Saturno, Wilson Agapito, Wilcris Agapito, Cesar Bernardo, Joseph Reyes, Annisito Almenario, Ferdinand Sarto, Paul James, Maximo Macasinag, Albert Javier, and Efren Brusola.

“Pertinently, the acts of the detained respondents show unity of action geared towards a common purpose, which is to re-bag the NFA rice to commercial sacks for sale at a higher price,” stated the inquest resolution prepared by the Bulacan Prosecutor’s Office.

The DOJ said the detained respondents “have conspired with each other” to commit profiteering, where the rebagged rice were sold at P43 per kilo.

Suspects Roberto and Regina Pualenco, who remain at large, will undergo preliminary investigation on July 17 at 2 p.m.

According to the depart- ment, elements of the Bulacan Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT) were tipped off on July 2 by an informant about the illegal activity at Jomarro Star Ricemill in Barangay Abangan Norte, Marilao. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)