As we reported back in January, the Filipino Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and several Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) officials were being investigated by the Ombudsman's office for their alleged involvement in the garlic cartel that spiked prices in 2014.
In a statement on Wednesday 15 June, the Office of the Ombudsman said its Field Investigation Office (FIO) filed a graft complaint affidavit against Alcala and the following BPI officials: former BPI director Clarito Barron, Merle Palacpac, Jesus Bajacan and Luben Marasigan.
The FIO also included in the graft complaint alleged dummy importer Lilia Cruz, who headed the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines, Inc. (VIEVA), which is allegedly behind the garlic cartel that spiked garlic prices from P80 to as much as P300 per kilo in 2014.
In its complaint, the FIO said from January to July 2014, prices of garlic spiked, which compelled the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation into possible profiteering, hoarding and cartel-like activities.
According to its transmittal letter dated Jan. 2015, the NBI found that VIEVA, a group of garlic traders and importers headed by Cruz, monopolized the supply of garlic and dictated its prices.
The FIO said Alcala was included in the complaint because he has direct supervision over the functions of the BPI.
Alcala and the others are set to be investigated for violation of Sections 3(e) and 3(j) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act No. 3019.
Alcala and Barron also face administrative adjudication for Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.
Barron has since been relieved of his duties as BPI director and transferred to the agriculture department’s field operations office since the garlic price fiasco.
Cruz, the so-called “Janet Lim-Napoles” in the garlic market, was the subject of a House of Representatives inquiry on an alleged scam within the garlic industry. Cruz is accused of operating a P200-million garlic and onion import scam by using dummy companies under the names of her drivers, clerks and house helpers.
(1 Philippine Peso= 0.021 USD)
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