Marcos: NFA situation involves not just 'anomalous sale' of rice

MELBOURNE—The suspension of over a hundred National Food Administration (NFA) officials is not just in connection with the anomalous sale of its rice, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.

Marcos said the situation is also the result of other activities which weren't done properly.

''The situation actually does not only involve the anomalous sale of NFA rice. It also is an examination of some of the procedures within the NFA that were undertaken without board approval, without the proper discussion within the NFA and with the DA and with the rest of the Cabinet,'' Marcos said.

''So, we have taken the safe measure of suspending all of those who have been shown to have been involved in any of these wrongdoings such as the anomalous sale but also the cavalier way in which the procedures that have been set out in the rules have been ignored,'' he added.

Marcos took on the agriculture portfolio before he appointed Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. secretary in November 2023 more than a year into his presidency.

Earlier, Laurel said he would temporarily take over the NFA following the suspension order of the Ombudsman against 139 officials and employees.

Laurel earlier formed a panel to look into allegations that certain officials authorized the sale of milled rice stored in the agency’s warehouse for P25 a kilogram without bidding, and after purchasing the grains in palay (unmilled rice) form at P23 per kilogram.

In response, the NFA issued a statement saying it had the mandate to dispose of its rice in good and consumable condition, as it said it released the supply responsibly by stretching to the maximum shelf life and minimizing the sale of residual volume to other accounts. —NB, GMA Integrated News