1,600 sacks of NFA rice ‘disappear’

MANILA, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is probing the “disappearance” of some 1,600 sacks of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas directed CIDG chief Director Benjamin Magalong to get to the bottom of the case.

Last July 18, CIDG detectives led by Senior Inspector Dick Cale and provincial NFA officials inspected the warehouse where 9,000 sacks of rice were kept. 

To their surprise, what were supposed to be stacks of rice in the middle of the warehouse turned out to be piles of 133 wooden pallets covered with empty sacks.

The warehouse supervisor, Melvin Pacaña, allegedly admitted that he released some 1,600 sacks of rice worth P2.4 million to supposedly unknown traders without proper authorization.

“If the warehouse supervisor is proven to be liable, charges will be filed against him,” Magalong said.