President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed concerned agencies to investigate the smuggling, hoarding, and price fixing of onions and other agricultural products, acts that he described as akin to economic sabotage.
"I have just given instructions to the DOJ and the NBI to initiate an investigation into the hoarding, smuggling, and price fixing of agricultural commodities," Marcos said in a video released by the Presidential Communications Office.
He gave the order after the House Committee on Agriculture and Food discovered the existence of an onion cartel.
"And this is stemming from the hearing that we’ve conducted in the House, specifically by Congresswoman Stella Quimbo, and the findings that they came up with," the President said.
Stella Quimbo, who chairs as a Marikina representative and is the vice chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, claimed in May that Lilia "Lea" Cruz and corporations operating at all levels of the value chain were responsible for the inflated price of onions that occurred in the latter half of last year and early in 2023.
According to Quimbo, the cartel has allegedly been using Philippine VIEVA Group of Companies Incorporated (PVGCI) as a front.
This company also reportedly engages in farming, importation, local trading, warehousing, and logistics.
Marcos said he believes there are sufficient grounds for an investigation.
"That is why we are going to be very, very strict about finding these people and making sure that they are brought to justice," he noted.
