CIDG probes 1,600 sacks of rice missing from Agusan warehouse

MANILA,  Philippines - Authorities are now investigating the case of the 1,600 sacks of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) allegedly missing from a warehouse in Agusan del Sur.

Criminal Investigation and Investigation Group head Director Benjamin Magalong said they are conducting a thorough probe on the anomalous taking out of NFA rice in the warehouse in Bayugan City, Agusan Del Sur.

Reports said that last July18, CIDG operatives with some of the officials of NFA Agusan Del Sur conducted inspection of an estimated 9,000 sacks of NFA rice inside the warehouse located at Barangay Poblacion, Bayugan City, Agusan Del Sur.

Authorities discovered that stack of rice was replaced with 133 pieces of wooden pallet at the middle portion of the warehouse and covered with empty rice sacks on top.

Magalong said warehouse supervisor Melvin Pacana said he released without proper authorization more or less 1,600 sacks of NFA rice amounting to P2.4 million to rice traders.

Meanwhile,the wooden pallets used as decoy were brought to the NFA Bayugan City as part of evidence while continuous accounting by the CIDG and NFA inspecting team.