Duterte eyes Army chief as next NFA administrator

MANILA, Philippines — Another soldier will lead the National Food Authority (NFA) as President Duterte is set to appoint Army chief Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista as administrator of the embattled state grains agency. 

During a meeting on the effects of Typhoon Ompong yesterday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the NFA was facing rice supply issues in Cagayan because of the absence of leadership in the agency. 

NFA administrator Jason Aquino has “requested” Duterte to relieve him from his post because of disagreements with fellow officials. 

Bello said he had tried to discuss the matter with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who replied that he has no control over the NFA. Bello asked Duterte whether he could allow Piñol to handle the NFA temporarily to address the issue. 

Duterte, who was presiding over the meeting in Tuguegarao, then asked some military officials present in the meeting who among them is retiring soon. Bautista told Duterte that he would bow out of the service in October. 

“In the meantime, I cannot place you in the central bank, perhaps I can place you in the NFA to rationalize the idiotic... to come up with plans, make it structural,” the President said. 

Duterte admitted that Bautista may not like the post because he is not into rice trading. 

“Si Bautista muna... di naman siya tindero (For now, it’s Bautista. He is not a rice trader). In the meantime, you have to help the country to rationalize it,” he added. 

Duterte justified his appointment of Bautista and other military men to civilian posts, saying he wants people who will follow his orders.

“I want my orders followed because I’m here giving orders. If my orders are not followed, I’d rather retire,” he said.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte expressed his desire to appoint Bautista as NFA administrator after he retires on Oct. 15.

Bautista assumed the post of Army commanding general in October last year after serving as the chief of the Presidential Security Group. 

Duterte reiterated that he is in favor of imposing tariffs on rice, saying the imposition of quotas has caused corruption. 

“I have decided (it has to be) tariffication. Whoever submits the highest bid, give it to them. Conduct a public bidding. Whoever has the money and whoever wants to import, go ahead. That would really stop corruption,” he said. 

“If the government has control, there is corruption. I tell you again,” he added.