Ex-NFA exec Banayo tapped as witness in rap vs. alleged smuggler Davidson Bangayan

Government agents have tapped former National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Angelito Banayo as one of the witnesses in the criminal complaint filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against suspected rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan.

Banayo, now chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco), failed to show up Thursday for the continuation of the preliminary investigation but committed to attend the next hearing on October 30 to reaffirm before the three-man panel of prosecutors his statement given to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Jose Cordero, former NFA special and bids awards (SBAC) committee chairman; and SBAC members Gilberto Lauengco and Carlito Co subscribed to their affidavits before investigating panel members Assistant State Prosecutors Jinky Dedumo, Eden Valdes, and Susan Villanueva.

Banayo and members of the former SBAC are facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the scheme where certain rice traders and importers were able to corner the NFA’s rice import allocations for 2012 through the use of farmers' organizations and cooperatives and single proprietorships as dummies.

Pending before the DOJ are the complaints against Bangayan for bid fixing in violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act 9184) and monopoly and restraint of trade in violation of Article 186 of the Revised Penal Code.

Bangayan, who was a no-show at the hearing, is also facing charges for using a fictitious name or concealing true identity in violation of Article 178 of the RPC and violation of Commonwealth Act 142 as amended by Republic Act 6085.

Bangayan’s co-respondents in the complaint for monopolies and combinations in restraint of trade are spouses Judilyne Lim and David Lim, Leah Echiveria, Elizabeth Faustino, and Eleanor Rodriguez.

Judilyne Lim, Faustino, Rodriguez, and Echiveria were named as Bangayan’s co-respondents in the complaint for violation of RA 9184.

Others named in the complaint were Eugene Pioquinto, Mary Joyce Lim, Jason Colocado, Michael Villanueva, Denis Gonzales, Willy Sy, Sandra Lim, Gil Calipayan, and Inigo Espiritu.

The 15 respondents have until October 30 to file their respective counter-affidavits. — RSJ, GMA News