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Palace expects 'bloody' talk with rice retailers Tuesday


MANILA. Philippines Malacañang expects "bloody discussions" with rice retailers at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 8, where they will talk ways on how to arrest the impending rice crisis. Cerge Remonde, head of the Presidential Management Staff, on Saturday said Malacañang would give the retailers a chance to air their concerns at the meeting. "Isa 'yan sa magiging madugong usapin sa Cabinet meeting Tuesday. It so happened na ang president ng Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines ay tagaCebu. We also want them to be able to give their side (We expect the discussion to be bloody. It so happened that the Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines has a Cebuano like me for its president, so we want them to be able to give their side)," Remonde said on government-run dzRB radio. Some retailers had threatened to hold a rice holiday to protest the government's order that suspended their permit to retail rice. The suspension was part of efforts to prevent unscrupulous rice traders from hoarding and manipulating prices rice from the National Food Authority. Remonde said he relayed the concerns of the retailers to Mrs Arroyo, who was "very open sa demokratikong talakayan (very open to democratic discussion) They would be given a chance at the Cabinet to air their side Tuesday." The Grains Retailers Confederation of the Philippines has 80,000 members nationwide, according to Remonde. The rice supply and distribution situation will also be discussed in Tuesday's meeting. Remonde said "it's very sad" that critics continued to question government moves to address the looming rice crisis. "Nandoon na naman suspicion ng kurakot. Anticipated 'yan ni Pangulo (There goes the suspicions on corruption again). That is why... decision niya (her decision was) that she might appoint a deputy ombudsman just for agriculture," he said. - GMANews.TV
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