Traders should be charged with high crimes

Traders say they are raising prices. Well, when I went to the supermarkets last Sunday, they already did. And these traders are really profiteers.

They are raising their prices at the time when a political crisis is brewing. These heartless thugs should be charged with profiteering or worst, economic sabotage. They are like thieves robbing the hapless fire victims. These people should be shot immediately.

One spokesman from Baguio Oil said that global prices of mantika or cooking oil has risen and they have no choice but to pass the increase to consumers. We understand their predicament but they should not time the increase at this time, since everybody is really suffering from high prices and inflation. OFW families are suffering due to low purchasing power of their dollars while employees are also bearing the brunt of high prices. Government must put a definitive stop at these illegal acts. Otherwise, this further justifies the ouster of this government. It is helpless in stemming the increases because it is now besieged or threatened by extinction by various groups. And you know what happens if this is the case? Obviously, government needs all the support it can get from all sectors of society, that includes these thugs. Government should subsidize these products, since, anyway, it says that we are in a very good economic standing and the economy can take care of itself. Why not institute price controls and subsidize basic commodities to arrest the increases? Or, why not stop these oil companies from increasing pump prices and again regulate the oil industry which is contributing to the hardship of the people? These are acts which could regain the goodwill of the people to government.

Arroyo should act now before the situation worsens and we see huge segments of the population demonstrating, or worst, revolting in the streets ala Argentina.