NBI urges raps vs. some gov’t execs, others over onion prices

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday recommended to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the filing of complaints against some individuals, including government officials, in connection with the alleged manipulation of onion prices in 2022.

At a media briefing, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the NBI after its investigation recommended the filing of complaints against six individuals for hoarding and profiteering.

When asked if there were some officials involved, "Kasama ang mga opisyal sa gobyerno dito sapagkat ang tingin namin sila po ay talagang lumalabas na may sala sa pagkakataong ito.”

(Government officials are included in this because we think that they really appear to be responsible in this case.)

Justice Undersecretary Geronimo Sy, the head of the investigation task group on agri-smuggling, said the possible complaint stemmed from a private cooperative selling onions for over P500 per kilo in December 2022.

“And this is now the basis for hoarding and profiteering. Kasi ang sabi daw wala na silang stocks, wala nang available, pero nung kinontrata at P500 plus, nagkakaroon ng stocks,” Sy said.

(And this is now the basis for hoarding and profiteering. Because they initially said there were no stocks, that there was nothing available, but when contracted at P500 plus, they suddenly had some.])

“At profiteering because ang farm gate prices ng onion, ‘yung cost of production, is from P8 to P15 lang. Pero pag benta P537… So ‘yun ‘yung twin crimes na tinatawag sa hoarding and profiteering,” he added.

(Profiteering because the farm gate prices of onion, the cost of production, is from only between P8 to P15. But it was sold for P537. So that is the twin crimes of hoarding and profiteering.)

Sy said three bids were submitted but two were fictitious.

“Ang minimum kasi three bidders dapat. So ang three bidders actually, iisa lang ang gumawa ng three bids, and nag falsify sila ng documents,” Sy said.

(There should be a minimum of three bidders. Only one made the three bids, and they falsified documents.)

“Malinaw na malinaw na ‘yung dalawang supposedly other bidders hindi alam na sumama sila sa bid… and this was allowed... Not following the basic due diligence for involving such a huge sum of money. About P134 million ang involved,” he added.

(It’s very clear that the two supposed other bidders did not know that they were part of the bid… and this was allowed... Not following the basic due diligence for involving such a huge sum of money. There's around P134 million involved.)

Asked if the government officials and the supplier conspired with each other, Sy said, “That is our finding, yes.”

The DOJ said it would release the names of the individuals involved once it has finished reviewing the recommendation.

Last year, the prices per kilo of onions ranged from P500 to P720 in some markets.

It increased from P140 on September, P280 on November, P300 on December 12 to 16, P380 on December 19 to 23, and P720 on December 28.

According to Remulla, the DOJ is also looking to file a complaint for economic sabotage against the said individuals.

“There will be other cases that will be filed by the DOJ up to the point of economic sabotage kapag natapos namin pa ‘yung ibang facts, ‘yung ibang case build up, ‘yung data na ma-evaluate namin,” Remulla said.

(There will be other cases that will be filed by the DOJ up to the point of economic sabotage once we finish the other facts, the case build-up, and the data is evaluated.)

“We’re talking about truck loads and truck loads of documents that have to be evaluated by our staff to be able to do a case build-up for this purpose. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of the cases to be filed,” he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News