Suspected rice smugglers surrender to Senate

MANILA – Five suspected rice smugglers who sought the assistance of Mayor Jerry Pelayo yesterday had voluntarily surrendered themselves to the Senate.

They are also officials of multi-purpose cooperatives duly recognized and registered to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), National Food Authority (NFA) and other attached agencies of the government.

Smugglers or victims? Mayor Jerry Pelayo and Superintendent Henry Flores accompanied cooperative officials as they surrendered voluntarily to Senate

These include  Emily Alabado (Ugnayang Magbubukid ng San Isidro Inc.),  Juanito David (Kapatirang Takusa Multi-Purpose Cooperative), Maximo Hernandez (Samahan ng mga Magsasakang Kapampangan at Katagalugan Multi Purpose Cooperative) , Crisanta Reyes (Malipampang Concern Citizens Multi Purpose Cooperative) and Elpidio Mendoza (Sili Multi Purpose Cooperative).

Legally doing business

“Kami po ay mga lehitimong kooperatiba. Ang kasalanan po lamang naming ay nagparticipate kami sa programa ng NFA na private sector-financed importation program,” Mendoza , Sili Multi Purpose Cooperative chairman said.

He narrated that all qualified cooperatives were invited by the NFA to join the program despite the fact that they have no financial capabilities to import rice.

“Basta kami nagpasa ng requirements, sumama at nanalo kami ng bidding hanggang doon lang ang aming partisipasyon. Kaya nagulat na lamang kami ng matanggap ng kami ng tawag at sulat tungkol sa rice smuggling he added.

Arrest warrant, contempt

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile recently delivered his privilege speech involving the alleged smuggled rice at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone delivered and Port of Legazpi.

This came as Vietnamese vessel Minh Tuan 68 reportedly carrying 94,000 bags of rice, was brought to Legaspi pier from the Albay Gulf anchorage area where the ship had been held for the past weeks.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Foods, Ways and Means, Trade and Commerce, Accountability of Public Officers and Investigation jointly invited these cooperative officials to provide information on how they got involved on rice importation.

The Vietnamese rice shipment were: the Ugnayan Magbubukid ng San Pedro Inc. from Candaba, Pampanga, 21,000 bags; Karapatan Takusa Multipurpose Cooperative, Candaba, 21,000 bags; Malipampang Concerned Citizens Multipurpose Cooperative of San Ildefonso, Bulacan, 18,000 bags; Samahan ng Magsasakang Capampangan at Katagalogan Multipurpose Cooperative, also of San Ildefonso, 18,000 bags; and the Sili Multipurpose Cooperative, Naguilian, La Union, 16,000 bags.

“Nasa Senado na po nung araw na ipinatawag kami pero pinigilan kami ng aming abogado. Ang advise po niya sa amin ay huwag munang dumalo,” Reyes, Malipampang Concern Citizens Multi Purpose Cooperative chairman told Sun Star Pampanga.

Custody

He personally escorted them to the Senate to request for the transfer of custody in his favor pending the next hearing.

“Nakakaawa naman ang mga ito. Ang kailangan ay managot sinumang may kinalaman dito,” Pelayo stated.