SUSPENSION OF 72 OVER 139 EMPLOYEES ON NFA BUFFER STOCKS HAS BEEN LIFTED

Illegal selling of NFA buffer stock rice has been lifted (Photo courtesy of Emie Penaredondo/PhilStar)

The authorities, who are the warehouse supervisors for NFA, have already complied by providing every required document and supporting documentation for the case, according to a 23-page resolution written by the Ombudsman.

"Among of the primordial purposes in the imposition of the preventive suspension against respondent NFA officials and employees is to prevent any prejudice which may be caused by respondents' continued stay in office during the investigation of the case filed against them and to preserve documents and evidence pertaining to this case which respondents have control and custody," the resolution states.

"Moreover, there is insufficient ground to believe that their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against them. Thus, the continued preventive suspension of the afore-named Warehouse Supervisors is no longer necessary," it added.

In March, the suspension of more than 20 warehouse supervisors was first lifted after submitting the required documents. NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco and Assistant Administrator John Robert Hermano, who approved the illegal sale of more than P90 million worth of stored rice that did not go through the auction and public beading, remained suspended.

Also suspended were the appointed officer-in-charge of the NFA, Assistant Administrator Piolito Santos and manager for operations, Jonathan Yazon. More than 40 NFA officials and employees also remain suspended.

Warehouse supervisors from NFA offices in a number of areas, including Region 3, Region IV-A, MIMAROPA, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7, Region 9, Region 10, Region 12, Region 11, and BARMM, are among the authorities implicated.

As mandated by the Rice Tariffication Law, the NFA must keep the nation's buffer stock of rice equal to 15 to 30 days' worth of the nation's rice consumption, accounting for crises and disasters. 

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

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