The National Bureau of Investigation identified the five as Pan Ziqiang Pua, his wife Lita Dy Pua, Anna Marie Velasco-Chua, Ting Ting Lee and Zeny Uy.
According to the NBI’s complaint, the Pua couple was operators of Lucky Bros. Ricemill while Chua was a rice mill owner in Isabela, with Lee and Uy as her workers.
Chua and Pua are still at large as of posting time, while Lee and Uy had been arrested while attending Chua’s store in San Vicente village in Ilagan town, Isabela. Both failed to show their alien certificate registration to arresting law enforcers.
No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally brought Lee and Uy to the Bureau of Immigration main office in Intramuros, Manila, to book for violations of immigration laws.
“The President made sure the two foreigners get their due in the application of the full power of the law against those who manipulate rice stock and prices in the country,” acting Immigration commissioner Roy M. Almoro said.
The filing of the complaint against the five Chinese nationals was in accordance with Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez’s directive to go after warehouse owners who are hoarding rice in order to jack up its prices.
“Charges of economic sabotage could be filed against those who are hoarding large quantity of rice. It is part of the investigation that the NBI is doing now,” Gonzalez said.
Economic sabotage is a non-bailable offense.
Based on the complaint, Chua, Lee and Uy violated a number of offenses ranging from engaging palay trading without authorization and license from the National Food Authority, violating the signboard provision of the Revised Rules and Regulation on Grains Business, lack of record book showing their grains transactions, and using unprescribed price tags.
Recovered from their possession were a total of 76 sacks of palay.
Pua and his wife, on the other hand, are facing charges of illegal price manipulation through the commission of hoarding, cornering of grains, absence of required license, lack of signboard, failure to maintain record book for warehouse/grains transaction and non-display of license.
Seized from their business establishment were some 8,200 bags of palay, 3,500 bag of rice and 500 bags of rice bran.
NBI director Nestor Mantaring said that Pua clearly violated the country’s anti-hoarding act considering their massive rice reserve.
Mantaring said that since Pua did not have an NFA license, any rice found in his establishment will qualify for hoarding.
Gonzalez said that the National Bureau of Investigation is looking into the possible involvement of some NFA personnel with rice hoarders. - GMANews.TV
Filed under: Thunder Articles | Tagged: NFA, NFA fails to match rice tender requirement