MANILA, Philippines - A consumers' rights group on Tuesday called on Presidential Adviser on Food Security Francis Pangilinan to go after all officials of the National Food Authority involved in anomalies.
Bantay Bigas also urged Pangilinan not to be selective in investigating NFA officials and personnel involved in scams and anomalous transactions in the agency.
Earlier reports said that NFA Administrator Orlan Calayag was allegedly involved one billion rice cargo-handling contract. Before the incident, another NFA chief Arturo Juan was accused of extortion worth 15 million.
"Scams and irregularities in NFA should all be investigated. Calayag is being investigated but NFA Chief Juan is seemingly spared from the 15 million extortion deal. In fact, Pangilingan even refused to accept the latter’s resignation," the group's spokesperson Lita Mariano said.
She also reiterated its call for the immediate and irrevocable resignation of Juan for lacking the moral ascendancy to lead the agency.
Mariano demanded for the speedy and urgent investigation on the reported case of P1 billion contract as well as the P15 million extortion case involving Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, Pangilinan and Juan.
"The accusation is not simple. It involves millions of pesos. We carry the burdens of a government who acts silent and idle on the issue of rice price hikes it is just and correct to demand a speedy and urgent investigation on this matter. All parties involved should be investigated and be held accountable," she said.