Arroyo orders NBI to intensify crackdown on rice hoarders

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to intensify its crackdown on rice hoarders and profiteers to ensure a stable supply of the staple. “The whole point is (rice) hoarding and profiteering," the President said. After the government lifted the restrictions on rice and corn imports, the NBI has to concentrate on rice bandits and unscrupulous traders, Arroyo said. “Do not be distracted," she said. “We have liberalized (rice) importation, so rice smuggling is not much of your concern now. If there are more rice stocks then we would all love it," the President said. Arroyo said the NBI's "Anti-Rice Hoarding Task Force" aims to prevent rice hoarding and related crimes, which can be considered acts of economic sabotage. The task force will handle inquest proceedings, preliminary investigation and prosecution of cases related to the "preservation and protection of the country’s rice supply." The President earlier ordered the lifting of restrictions on rice and corn imports, but maintained the tariff for these products. With the lifting of the import quota, rice traders can now import as much of the cereal as they want for as long as they do not resort to hoarding. The tariff on rice was retained to protect local farmers from the possible flooding of the market with cheap rice. In 2006, the quota for private sector importation of rice was set at 350,000 metric tons. - OPS/GMANews.TV