The Ombudsman on Tuesday ordered the reinstatement of 72 warehouse supervisors of the National Food Authority, who the anti-graft body suspended in March in connection with the agency’s sale of rice buffer stocks to private traders without public bidding and sans approval of the NFA Council.
The anti-graft body ordered Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. to implement immediately the decision lifting the preventive suspension.
“I’m happy that the suspensions have been lifted on the 72 warehouse supervisors. I instructed the NFA to immediately implement the Ombudsman’s order,” the agri chief said.
Tiu Laurel said the Ombudsman’s decision will allow NFA to open still-padlocked warehouses and help in the procurement of additional palay supply. He said results of the Department of Agriculture’s own investigation into the sale of buffer stocks should be completed soon, and shared with the Ombudsman.
In early March, the Ombudsman placed under six-month preventive suspension former NFA administrator Roderico Bioco, assistant administrator for operations John Robert Hermano,12 regional managers, 27 branch managers, and 98 warehouse supervisors throughout the country. Weeks after, the Ombudsman lifted the suspension imposed versus 23 NFA warehouse supervisors.
In its latest order, the Ombudsman lifted the preventive suspension on grounds their continued stay in office isn’t likely to prejudice the ongoing investigation on the alleged anomalous sale of rice buffer stock.
“A closer evaluation of the case record, subsequent/additional compliances made to and pleadings submitted to this Office reveal that the documents/evidence pertaining to the case, which all of the aforementioned warehouse supervisors from Region III, Region IV-A, MIMAROPA, Region V, Region VI, Region VII, Region IX, Region X, Region XII, Region XIII and BARMM have control and custody, were already obtained by this Office,” the order said.
