The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Agriculture conducted a raid on a rice warehouse in Bocaue, Bulacan after reports revealed that the facility was mixing old rice, repackaging it into new sacks, and selling it to consumers at a higher price.
In a report by RH Edwin Duque, it was mentioned that the warehouse contained thousands of sacks of rice, some of which had already passed their expiration date, providing evidence that some of the rice had been stored in the facility for an extended period.
JUST IN: Ilang bodega ng bigas na hinihinalang sangkot sa economic sabotage sa Bocaue, Bulacan sinalakay ng NBI | RH 23 @edwindu36836256, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/ZSr3hX9los
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NBI Director Jaime Santiago stated that the scheme in the warehouse involved mixing different types of rice, placing them into a single sack, and then spraying them with pandan scent.
"Pagbukas mo ng bigas, iba’t-ibang variety ‘yon, lalagyan ng pabango. Pagbukas mo ang bango, maputi ‘yung rice, then papass-on nila ng mas mahal na presyo," Dir. Santiago added.
Santiago further explained that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will evaluate the total cost, quantity, and variety of the rice that was discovered.
Additionally, the NBI Director stated that they began monitoring the warehouse as early as December of last year, and when the opportunity arose, they swiftly launched the operation.
The NBI believes that the said warehouse is just one of many involved in rice hoarding, which caused the continuous increase in rice prices.
"Patuloy kaming nagmamanman, patuloy kaming nagsasaliksik ng mga information para matumbok pa natin ‘yung iba pang gumagawa ng ganito," said Santiago.
Among those apprehended during the raid on the warehouse were a manager, two cases, and an inventory officer.
The apprehended individuals, along with the identified warehouse owner, will be charged under Republic Act No. 12022 for Economic Sabotage, profiteering, hoarding, and fraudulent labelling.
