Palace: Duterte ready to break open rice hoarders’ warehouses

President Rodrigo Duterte will not hesitate to use the "full power" of the government against rice hoarders, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

"He [Duterte] has threatened to force open them. He has given them fair warning. And he says, 'Let them sue me if they want. But if the situation calls for it, I would break open the warehouses because this is a matter of national security,'" presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters.

The President earlier underscored the need to address issue of artificial rice shortage in order to stabilize prices.

In his third State of the Nation Address, Duterte warned rice hoarders, cartels and their protectors to "stop messing with the people" or face the consequence should they continue their ways.

He also directed all intelligence agencies to "unmask the perpetrators of this economic sabotage" and law enforcement agencies to bring them to justice.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III recently said the President, during one meeting, scolded and threatened a rice trader over the phone for allegedly hoarding rice shipments. The Senate leader, however, could not recall the name of the trader.  — BM, GMA News