QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol threatened to file charges of economic sabotage against traders who hoard rice.
“The moment I sense that there is an attempt on the part of rice traders to create a rice shortage I will recommend to the President the creation of a task force that would open up and inspect all warehouses all over the country and those found hoarding rice should be charged with economic sabotage,” Piñol said.
The warning came after reports about groups spreading alleged fake news of an impending rice shortage.
These followed President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive not to allow the importation of rice, especially during harvest season.
“Those spreading rumors that stopping rice importation could lead to rice shortage are fooling the Filipino people,” Piñol explained.
The agriculture chief said that they have enough data on an increase in the country’s rice production.
“We know our (rice production) numbers. We know our data and we are sure of our numbers so we cannot be duped,” he said.
“They are pulling the leg of the Filipino people. They cannot refute our data, our data is satellite-based. The rice production for the first quarter was 210,000 metric tons over and above what was harvested during the same period last year,” he said.