Chinese businessman bags 900 million pesos worth of imported rice

With all these anomalies happening at the National Food Authority (NFA), it is not of course surprising why food prices are extremely high here in the Philippines. Prices of rice are being manipulated by unscrupulous individuals who are very close to the Powers. And like what we exposed here at NPR, the NFA just admitted that there is a big cartel of rice traders controlling the agency.


Fact is, we learned that a Chinese businessman just bagged the 900 million pesos worth of rice to be imported. This Chinoy is reportedly very close to Malacanang. How did he do it when it is illegal for an individual to import rice without prior knowledge or a permit from NFA? Rice importations are allowed only thru legitimate farmer cooperatives. 


Malacanang should file the necessary charges against rice traders who are part of this huge rice cartel. This is teach them a lesson not to influence the price of this basic commodity.

Tremors

After the 4.5 magnitude quake which rocked Aurora and Metro Manila over the weekend, a few tremors were felt today in Manila. I noticed that these tremors are starting to increase in frequency, not in strength. Philvocs should explain these things before the public to dispel fears of a big one coming. An email is circulating in the blogsphere about this prediction of a Brazilian "psychic" who recently predicted a big quake to hit the Philippines come 18 July 2008.

I am not big on predictions and I surely can't believe someone who predicts quakes. No one can do that except probably chickens or cats. Animals are known to feel these quakes.

I am more fearful about the economic quakes hitting us than real quakes. I mean, life is getting harder by the day due to the global slowdown.

Malacanang's economic advisers are on the right course with the Noah's Ark proposal. It seems that government is beginning to act like a Robin Hood, promising to give to the poor billions of pesos worth of VAT collections probably to prevent a spillage of dissent to the underground.

Government should realize that the prospect of riots is not far-fetched in the Philippines. It happened at EDSA dos and the May 1 rebellion. We saw the anger of the poor against this government before and without an outlet to vent their anger, disorganized violence could erupt anytime.

It already happened in Cavite, with thousands of angry families marching towards the NFA warehouse, demanding for more rice supplies. This is the fault of the current Secretary of Agriculture Art Yap. He's constantly giving us false info on the true status of our food security. IN this times of crisis, government should be more forthright to us. People would understand if we don't have enough food stocks. I mean, its quite evident that this administration has failed the people several times. And the people are not expecting that much from this administration anyway, so it's better to just tell people the truth instead of giving us false hopes.

I have some proposals to government to at least mitigate the effects of this impending disaster:

1. Government should increase the rate of excise tax especially on sin products.
2. Government should suspend VAT until January 2009.
3. Government should reclaim its stake on oil companies, instead of selling its stake on Petron to a tycoon. This is NOT the right time to sell oil stocks. I don't see any rationale behind this plan to sell.
4. Government should sell non-performing GOCC's now to generate revenues.

Praising GMA for the 1st time

I heard from reliable sources that GMA heeded my challenge---she'll present two big-time rice traders before the public. Sounds very nice. I like her when she's tough and determined.

I also heard that she'll fire Morales from the Customs post and give him a wonderful kick in the ass. Sounds very nice. I like her when she's showing her political will.

I am hearing something good also from my friends in the energy sector. GMA daw will review the Oil deregulation law and would probably do something to arrest the increasing prices of petrol. Well, if that'll happen, i'll go to Malacanang and give a rousing speech praising her for standing up for the people's rights to live.

For the first time, I am seeing the GMA I once loved and supported in EDSA Dos.

Welcome news...

1. Allowing the wheels of justice to fall against Nani Perez. He's a rapacious dog. He should be jailed if he's guilty.
2. Giving 5 billion as support to poor families. Very laudable program. I hope it does'nt fall to the hands of the unscrupulous. If it does, then, GMA should order the NBI to arrest them and if they resist, shoot those bastards. Its a mortal sin to deprive food from the poorest of the poor.
3. GMA is finally reviewing the rice importation policy of NFA. Sounds very, very nice.

If GMA continues to do good and think about the interests of the people instead of her family's, then, I'll even support and vote for her come 2010.

However, I am giving GMA a few weeks to continue her governance. If she continues to act presidential, then, people like me will support her all the way to hell, if needed. Hey, that's where she belongs right, as a devil enfant, if Joma's to be believed.

Jueteng before, rice cartels today

Sources from the intelligence community revealed that some jueteng lords have now shifted to rice cartelization. Yes, after a massive and serious campaign against the illegal numbers game, some big-time jueteng lords have allegedly colluded with rice retailers and formed their own cartels in the provinces. For the benefit of mamang pulis, these areas are the following:

1. Pangasinan--they are using some cooperatives in buying NFA rice for "conversion"
2. Isabela--they have a big cooperative which they use for buying NFA rice again for "conversion"
3. Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya--the same modus operandi. Some even have importation permits
4. Quezon, Cavite, Davao, Cebu

These syndicates have big warehouses (not bonded) in those areas. Go to Quezon province. They have big warehouses there full of sacks and sacks of rice, converted already from NFA and imported rice. In Valenzuela, Malabon and Caloocan, there are huge warehouses there of illegally imported rice.

I dare NFA administrator Jessup Navarro to release to the media a list of all those rice retailers whose licenses were revoked. I also asked DA Secretary Art Yap to reveal the list of these big-time rice traders to the public. If, as he says, his father-in-law Jim Gaw is not involved in rice or cereals trading, then, as a gentleman, he must "clear" his father-in-law of all complicity by being transparent in his revelation of this list. Not doing so would definitely tarnish his image and credibility.

It is also quite suprising why Yap just called his father-in-law to ask if he's involved. I don't believe this. Likewise, I think it is time for Yap to resign since all the big-time rice traders are Chinese. Yes, they are Chinese. There's nothing wrong with Chinese businessmen transacting here in our country. But, if they do these things---cartelization--then, they better leave this country and don't come back.

So I say--reveal the list now!