Retailers want committee to monitor fake rice issue

Retailers want to establish a committee that will monitor issues and developments surrounding fake rice, with a view to bringing to justice and penalizing those who perpetrate fake news about the matter.

"We would like to propose na sana magkaroon ng Rice Watch Committee to be organized composed of concerned government agencies and the private sector. Kasali kami doon, supported by a legal team to address issues pertaining to fake rice,"  Grains Retailers Confederation (GRECON) National President James Magbanua said during a press conference in Quezon City on Friday.

"Perhaps, by working together, we can assure the consuming public that the rice industry stakeholders are doing their fair share in safeguarding the health of the Filipino people," Magbanua noted.

The committee would be composed of GRECON members along with officials of concerned government agencies such as the National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

"We would also like to solicit the help and support of the National Food Authority. Isali ko na rin yung DTI, DICT and other concerned law enforcement agencies to address the issue of fake rice, specifically identifying and bringing to justice those who unscrupulously spread fake rice news and those taking advantage of the situation by falsely claiming to have been victimized by this fake rice issue," Magbanua said.

Those who spread fake news should also be penalized, as they cause panic and sow confusion, Magbanua said.

"It's high time to consider a legislative measure to penalize the source of fake news and those who deliberately spread the same to create panic and confusion among the public, especially the news which affect our economy," Magbanua noted.

"Tama na ang pagpapakalat ng peke at malisyosong balita. In this regard, we at GRECON are ready to receive complaints through a hotline and file appropriate criminal charges necessary against those who are liable, be it from the consumer side or the retailers side," he added.

The NFA has confirmed that supposedly fake rice samples that underwent laboratory tests turned out to be genuine rice. NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Aquino called on the public to stop spreading rumors about fake rice.
 
Propaganda

Magbanua claimed a propaganda movement might be behind the fake news circulating via social media. He noted the doubtful allegations regarding fake rice seemed to come out around this time of year.

In June 2015, a certain Carmencita Griño of Davao City aired the complaint that the texture of rice she bought was like styrofoam. But the allegation was false and the supposedly fake rice turned out to be contaminated.

"Looking at it from another perspective, we find the timing of the circulation of this fake news suspect ... In 2015, it was also in June. Ngayon, June na naman, meron ulit," Magbanua noted.

"It was around this time in 2015 when similar reports of fake rice became news. It created panic in the public psyche, only to be discovered later that the alleged fake rice hindi naman pala fake," he said.

Magbanua speculated that there might be some people who are behind the fake rice news. "We believe that there are numerous unscrupulous groups behind the deliberate spreading of fake news. We urge the public to be more discerning."

GRECON is alarmed by what's happening, noting it is "unfortunate" that "honest grains retailers" are being affected and victimized by opportunists or consumers who are taking advantage of the situation.

"Kaya kami ay nababahala dahil ang lumalabas na nagiging target ng pagmamanipula ng mga balitang ito ay ang mga kasamahan naming grains retailers na kumakayod araw-araw upang magkaroon ng matinong kita," Magbanua noted.

"Sa katunayan ang aming mga kasamahang grains retailers ngayon ay hina-harass ng mapagsamantalang namimili. Katulad nung bumili ng ilang kilo, pagkatapos sinabing may fake rice, sinabing mabaho. Nagpakita ng isang sako, kaya nagkagulo doon sa isang barangay sa Quezon City," he said.

"Mayroon ding ilan na bibili ng isang kilong bigas upang ibalik lang sa retailer dahil fake raw ang rice na ito. Parang kinikikilan lang kami ata. Pipilitin na palitan ang isang fake rice ng isang kaban dahil kung hindi irereport daw sa awtoridad. Ano bang klase 'to. Matagal na kasangga ng gobyerno itong asosasyon namin, lalo na itong mga retailers," he added. — VDS/KVD, GMA News