By el Amigo

MANILA — Despite the removal of the official leading the probe, the Department of Agriculture (DA) remains committed to investigating the alleged improper sale of rice stocks by the National Food Authority (NFA).

The Office of the Ombudsman recently ordered the dismissal of Demosthenes Escoto, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director and head of the investigation panel, for grave misconduct related to BFAR’s procurement of communications equipment in 2018.

“The panel, led by Escoto along with Atty. Willie Ann Angsiy and Assistant Secretary James Layug, remain intact. The majority of the team is still actively engaged,” stated Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa during a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Friday.

De Mesa assured that the investigation would continue with the two remaining officials on the panel. He emphasized that there would be no significant delays in the process, as the panel’s activities are fully supported while awaiting the appointment of a new head.

“The discussions are ongoing, and Secretary [Francisco] Tiu Laurel will announce the new head at any moment,” De Mesa added.

Secretary Laurel has directed the NFA to expedite the submission of necessary documents to the panel and to cooperate with the Ombudsman’s concurrent investigation. The DA aims to scrutinize procurement and rice quality assessment records dating back to 2019.

The alleged improper sale involves approximately 75,000 bags of NFA rice valued at over PHP 93.7 million, which were reportedly sold to selected millers and traders without a bidding process, resulting in a price deemed “disadvantageous” to the government.

(IA/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

THE Senate Committee on Finance has passed the proposed budget of the Office of the Ombudsman, amounting to P5.050 billion for 2024.

The proposed budget includes P51 million in confidential funds.

Senator Sonny Angara, the panel’s chairman, moved to halt their deliberations on the Ombudsman’s expenditure plan for next year, but stated that the decision is “without prejudice to any possible augmentation.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Kiko Pimentel was surprised after knowing that the Office of the Ombudsman has a confidential fund.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that he is willing that the confidential fund be scrapped if it will taint the reputation of the office and of the Ombudsman itself and the officers.

Pimentel then commended Martires for his remark, saying it is a “symbolic act.”

Martires then was curious about confidential funds on the reason why it is an issue.

“It’s because dumami na ang nagre-request at lumalaki nang sobra ang halaga,” the senator said.

“Those are the two reasons, at idagdag na natin ang pangatlo: Mahirap ang buhay ng tao ngayon that’s why sensitive sila sa money and use of money,” Pimentel explained. (ai/mnm)