'Bukbok'-laced rice issue being blown out of proportion —Piñol

The issue of weevil- or "bukbok"-laced imported rice is being blown out of proportion, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol claimed on Sunday.

Piñol made the remark as he insisted that it is safe to eat imported rice found in sacks infested with "bukbok."

"Itong issue ng bukbok, pinapalaki lang eh. Ano bang problema natin sa bukbok?" Piñol told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

Piñol earlier said there is nothing wrong with eating rice infested with "bukbok," as it only needed to be washed.

In a video report on Friday, Piñol even showed how to cook "bukbok"-laced rice, and even ate it.

The agriculture secretary pointed out that it would be wrong to dispose "bukbok"-filled rice.

"I am not saying that I am encouraging bigas with bukbok. Ang sinasabi ko lang, 'yung suggestion na itapon 'yung bigas na may bukbok is wrong," he said.

"Because 'yung bukbok ay bahagi 'yan ng grains industry. Parang langgam na itim 'yan na nandiyan, nakapulupot, kapag matamis ang prutas," he added.

The rice bags infested with "bukbok" were discovered at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

National Food Authority spokesperson Rex Estoperez explained that the rice weevils emerged due to the warm temperature in warehouses where the sacks of rice are stored.

The Bureau of Plant Industry, meanwhile, said the weevils were possibly caused by improper fumigation.

But due to this and other issues involving the rice industry in the country, lawmakers have called for Piñol's resignation.

In response, Piñol said: "Kung pati 'yung galunggong at bukbok ay pagre-resignin natin dahil sa mga bagay-bagay na 'yan, we're being very petty about this."

"Everybody calls for the resignation of anybody. But when you are in battle, you don't pull out your general. You allow them to maneuver and get out of that tight situation," he added.

A House resolution has already been filed seeking an investigation into the importation of sacks of rice found infested with "bukbok." —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News