Villar eyes raps vs DA, NFA execs over rice funds

MANILA, Philippines — Leading reelectionist Sen. Cynthia Villar warned officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority that she would file charges against those who failed to properly use the rice competitiveness enhancement funds, which would help local farmers improve their livelihood.

Villar said she would initiate a test case on holding accountable government officials and employees for their failure to properly implement laws which were passed by Congress and signed by the President.

Villar said there is a provision on the filing of charges against negligent officials in the amended Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996 or an “Act Replacing the Quantitative Import Restrictions on Rice with Tariffs, Lifting the Quantitative Export Restrictions.”

The measure created the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) as a special rice safeguard duty to protect the rice industry from sudden or extreme price fluctuations and provide farmers with assistance to make them competitive.

Rice industry groups earlier warned that the law would kill the local rice sector. 

Villar said she is now looking for lawyers who are experts on the dereliction of government duty.

She said negligent officials and employees would face charges before the Sandiganbayan.

She also said that the black propaganda against her in connection with the rice tariffication law forced her to campaign harder during the 90-day campaign period.

She expressed gratitude for Filipino voters who kept their trust in her.