Malacañang on Thursday, October 4, confirmed that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered the immediate investigation over the alleged missing smuggled 23,015 sacks of rice in Zamboanga City.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr in a Palace press briefing, said that the Chief Executive is “visibly upset” over the said incident of stealing of smuggled rice.
Roque likewise said that the President urged the immediate placing on preventive suspension of the officers and members of the National Food Authority (NFA) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) who might be behind the incident.
“The Executive Secretary asked me to tell the nation that the President has ordered an immediate investigation of this incident and that instructions were given for both NFA OIC and Customs Commissioner to immediately place on preventive suspension individuals who may be part of this scheme,” Roque said.
Following this directive from the President, Roque said that Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña has ordered the administrative relief of Zamboanga District Collector Lyceo Martinez and Customs Police District Commander Felimeno Salazar.
Roque took the occasion to inform the public the actions taken to recover the missing rice at the Port of Zamboanga.
“Una, noong Oktubre 1, ang pag-recover ng 5,000 sako ng bigas sa Basulta Traders Corporation warehouse,” Roque said.
“Pangalawa, noong Oktubre 2, ang pagbawi ng 3,000 sako ng bigas sa Suterville Warehouse Manga Drive at 8,000 sako ng bigas sa Kasanyangan Compound, Sta. Catalina,” he added.
The Palace official likewise announced that inventory of the recovered smuggled rice in the above-mentioned places are being done.
“Patuloy pa rin ang imbestigasyon alinsunod sa kautusan ng ating Pangulo,” Roque assured.
‘Davao farmers to benefit from the completion of Mal River Irrigation System’
In the same press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. also announced the completion of the construction of the Mal River Irrigation System (Mal RIS) in Davao del Sur.
Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Assistance (JICA), the Mal RIS will aid around 3,720 farmers and their families in their farming activities in the said region.
“[I]to ang kauna-unahang proyekto natapos ng National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP),” Roque said.
“Ito ay magbibigay ng sapat na tubig sa 2,635 hectares na agrikulturang lupa sa mga bayan ng Matanao, Kiblawan, at Hagonoy,” Roque added. (PCO-Content)
