House Speaker Martin Romualdez, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and Bureau of Customs (BOC) Intel Chief Alvin Enciso on Wednesday conducted surpise inspections in three warehouses in the municipalities of Bocaue and Balagtas in Bulacan that are allegedly keeping suspected smuggled rice.

In an interview with reporters, Romualdez said the inspection was conducted in adherence to President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s order.

"Basta ilabas ang stocks sa tamang presyo. 'Yung mga nag i-import, gawin ang tamang importation," he said when asked what was Marcos' exact marching order.

"Dapat kumpleto yung documentation, tama yung pagbayad ng buwis at agad yung paglabas [ngbigas] at huwag mong hintayin na tumataas ang presyo," Romualdez added.

The House Speaker warned importers and traders that the government would be prompted to confiscate the rice stocks if they did not follow the correct processes.

Romualdez also issued a warning against cartels that the lower chamber may be urged to investigate them.

He said they discovered around 60,000 to 70,000 sacks of rice in the first warehouse they went to.

Last week, the two officials along with BOC officers and House leaders conducted inspection in warehouses in Bulacan where they found 202,000 rice stock worth ₱500 million.

Tulfo earlier said that the inspection proved that there is no rice shortage in the country.