By Lito U. Gagni
Mar 21 min
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced that it is conducting an investigation into the alleged improper sale of rice by the National Food Authority (NFA) to selected traders.
Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has already called on the two NFA officials implicated in the controversy to voluntarily take their leave of absence. I Photo: PIA Ifugao Facebook
During a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday, DA spokesman Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa assured that the results of the investigation will be released soon. He added that Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has already called on the two NFA officials implicated in the controversy to voluntarily take their leave of absence.
Secretary Tiu has consequently instructed NFA Administrator Roderico Bioco and Assistant Administrator for Operations Lemuel Pagayunan to take a leave of absence to ensure fair conduct of the investigation.
“Secretary is fair. He wants Administrator Bioco and Assistant Administrator for Operations Lemuel Pagayunan to take a leave of absence first to make the investigation fairer,” he said.
“The investigation is ongoing. The panel of investigators is reviewing documents and conducting interviews. We expect updates on the investigation very soon,” he pointed out.
De Mesa clarified that Secretary Laurel has not given a specific deadline for the probe. “Secretary has not given a specific deadline, but in the phase where the review is being conducted, we can expect results from the panel of investigators very soon,” he said.