By Kaye Imson, News5 | Philippine News Agency
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed criminal charges against more than 100 individuals and government officials who were suspected behind the spike in the price of garlic last year.
Justice Secretary Leila M. de Lima said in a press conference that charges will be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) against 119 officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Department of Agriculture (DA) and members of the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT).
Also to be charged are the suspected “dummies” of importer Lilia Cruz alias “Leah Cruz”.
According to De Lima, the respondents conspired in order to manipulate 75 percent of the total importation of garlic in the country through the BPI import permits.
De Lima said that also to be charged is former BPI director Clarito Barron.
The charges to be filed before the Ombudsman are “direct bribery” and “violation of the Anti-Graft law.”
The NBI earlier filed charges against the respondents before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for violation of the Price Act, Monopolies and Combinations in Restraint of Trade, Obstruction of Justice and the use of fictitious name.
The DOJ confirmed last September 2014 that the cause of the sudden increase in the price of garlic was the conspiracy between some government officials and the importers of garlic.
The DOJ discovered that majority of the import permits for garlic were granted only to four persons who have a “network of dummy entities” which were “accredited” by the BPI.
Some 73 percent of the supply of garlic were imported and the remaining 27 percent came from the local producers.
De Lima ordered the NBI last June to investigate the suspects for hoarding, profiteering and cartel activities, which were believed to have been the cause of the increase in the price of garlic that cost P350 per kilo at its peak.
Officials are investigating the possible role of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in the anomaly after a whistleblower, Lilybeth Valenzuela, mentioned his name in her sworn statement before the DOJ
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