National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry del Rosario Lacson today announced that his agency is set to file a plunder case against an NFA employee holding a mid-level position over missing rice and palay stocks since 2021.
“Very soon, we will file it to the Ombudsman. So I just would like to share with you how serious we are in fighting corruption and supporting the call of the present administration of our President Bong Bong Marcos,” Lacson said at the press conference.
The charges will involve both criminal and administrative cases. The Ombudsman will decide whether to file it with the Sandiganbayan or not. He said the NFA officer holds a mid-level position assigned in the region.
He said that the NFA internal audit is still building up the case, but initial details showed that it involves the alleged missing supply of palay and rice stocks since 2021, resulting in fewer stocks of rice valued at more than P50 million.
“Based on record, because you need to be accountable, you know what your stocks are, if it’s not enough, you have to explain. So it look like he cannot explain,” he said, adding that based on his reply to the show-cause order, the employee denied the allegation.
The NFA employee has already been transferred from his previous post at the NFA. As part of due process, once the case is filed, the employee will be automatically suspended.
Lacson said the audit team is still looking into potential accomplices to the missing rice and palay stocks, which are believed to be local stocks.
The crime of plunder is defined as a public officer amassing at least PHP50 million through a series of criminal acts, including misuse of public funds, taking advantage of one’s position for personal gain, or receiving gifts in connection with government contracts and transactions.
The penalty for plunder is life imprisonment plus the forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth in favor of the state. Convicted individuals are also disqualified from holding any public office. The crime is non-bailable in the Philippines under Republic Act No. 7080.
Lacson considers the case an isolated one, although he recalled previous shortages that also involved another employee more than five years ago. The individual involved went AWOL (absence without leave).
Previously, the NFA had filed another case involving an employee over a PHP30 million grains issue. The employee is now detained.
So far, NFA has already filed 35 administrative cases against erring employees, 28 under preventive suspension, and 99 issued show cause order.
