Nagbabala kahapon ang Philippine National Police (PNP) laban sa mga pasaway na negosyante, partikular ang mga tumatarget sa bigas at iba pang produktong pagkain, na itigil ang pagmamanipula ng presyo nito sa pamilihan kung ayaw nilang masalang sa kampanyang kasing tindi ng laban kontra ilegal na droga at kriminalidad.

Sinabi ni PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde na ang inisyatibo para suportahan ang laban kontra sa illegal rice traders ay tugon sa direktiba ni Pangulong Duterte na itigil ang rice hoarding at cartel, gaya ng nabanggit nito sa State-of-the- Nation Address (SONA) nitong nakaraang linggo.

“[U]pon the guidance of President Duterte as embodied in the SONA, we will aggressively support concerned government agencies in waging war against unscrupulous traders who willfully manipulate market forces for their own selfish gain that result in higher prices of basic and essential commodities particularly rice and food products,” paliwanag ni Albayalde sa pulong-balitaan sa Camp Crame.

“Our firm responsiveness to the national anti-drugs and anti-crime policy will be of the same degree with our commitment to the national policy on food security and consumer protection,” banta ng PNP chief.

Nanindigan si Albayalde na ang isyu sa pagtatago ng bigas ay higit pa sa isyung pang-ekonomiya at patas na kalakalan. “This is a matter of food security that the state is duty-bound to protect and defend,” giit niya.

Sa SONA nitong Hulyo 23, sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte: “I now ask all the rice hoarders, cartels and their protectors, you know that I know who you are. Stop messing with the people. I hate to... Power sometimes is not a good thing. But I hope I will not have to use it against you.

“Consider yourselves warned. Mend your ways now or the full force of the State shall be brought to bear upon you. I am directing all intelligence agencies to unmask the perpetrators of this economic sabotage and our law enforcement agencies to bring them to justice,” anang Pangulo.

Hinggil dito, sinabi ni Albayalde na ipinag-utos na niya sa Directorate for Operations na i-review ang mga operational plan, directives at issuances, kabilang ang Memoranda of Agreement (MOA), kasama ang Department of Agriculture (DA) at National Food Authority (NFA).

-Martin A. Sadongdong