Brother clears Pangasinan vice gov's name over rice hoarding

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines - A rice trader and brother of Pangasinan Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, called up the different local radio stations in the province to clarify the issue that had dragged his sister's name. Roger Primicias of Scout Balara, Quezon City said the National Food Authority (NFA) did not raid his alleged warehouse as reported last Tuesday in a national television. Primicias said they came to visit and verify a report, which they received about alleged NFA rice hoarding and repacking in his area. He said it was also a coincidence that the vice governor and her husband were in Quezon City that time as they came to attend the burial of their grandmother. He explained that he is an accredited NFA rice retailer, and the reported warehouse does not exist. What was visited by the NFA operatives was his residence where he stacks the commercial rice which cannot be accommodated at his rice store in the market. He said it was not a raid but a mere visit to verify reports of hoarding or repacking of NFA rice. "I want to clarify that my sister has nothing to do with this issue. This is my business," he said. Primicias further said what the NFA personnel saw were seven empty sacks of NFA rice. The sacks of rice stacked at his residence were 80 cavans of commercial rice. As to the presence of empty sacks of NFA rice, he said he is allowed to buy 25 cavans a week. Sometimes the empty sacks are left at his rice store, while some others he brought home. He also denied hoarding rice as he said an NFA rice retailer has to personally show up at the NFA warehouse if he is going to buy stocks. "One cannot buy rice if he does not personally pay and sign the receipt. And he is also escorted if he wants it to be delivered to his own store. If the storeowner is not there, his order will not be discharged. And the unloading of stocks is also monitored by four groups," he said. Primicias said his sister's name could have been mentioned in the television report because she has a calendar at the place where the sacks of rice were stacked. Sun.Star