Ombudsman probes DA chief over garlic cartel scam

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman is currently investigating Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for his alleged involvement in the garlic cartel scam.

Alcala and several Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) officials which include Clarito Barron, Merle Bautista-Palacpac, Jesus Bajacan and Luben Quijano Marasigan, are being probed for allegedly violating Sections 3(e) and 3(j) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019.  

Alcala and Barron were also charged with grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. The Field Investigation Office (FIO) also filed a complaint-affidavit against them.

FIO included the incorporators of Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines, Inc.’s (VIEVA) and Lilia Cruz in its complaint. It claimed that in January to July 2014, garlic prices spiked alarmingly prompting the Department of Justice to direct the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation into possible profiteering, hoarding and cartel-like activities.

The NBI then concluded that VIEVA, a group of garlic traders and importers headed by Cruz monopolized the supply of garlic and dictated market prices. This was written in its January 2015 transmittal letter.

The bureau furthered that BPI officials who eased transactions and issued numerous garlic import permits to VIEVA and its affiliates despite the latter's failure to comply with required accreditation helped in making the monopoly possible.

“As DA Secretary, Alcala has the direct supervision over the functions of the BPI” and “[Alcala’s] participation in the scheme was manifested when he created the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) composed mainly of private stakeholders with apparent interest in the garlic industry,” FIO said in its complaint.

On Janurary 2016, FIO recommended the probe of Barron for graft and direct bribery for his supposed involvement in the anomalous issuance of garlic import permits. In July 2012, a witness testified that a vegetable importer or exporter went to Barron’s office and bribed him of P240,000 in exchange for the issuance of two permits.

Due to this Barron and his deputies Palacpac and Marasigan might face preliminary investigation for violation of Section 3(b) of Republic Act 3019 and administrative adjudication for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.