Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has named three officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) who will face criminal and administrative complaints in relation to onion smuggling that led to the spike in prices late last year.
In a briefing on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said suspended DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service officer-in-charge Junibert de Sagun, and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director Glenn Panganiban will be sued for alleged graft and corruption.
Earlier this year, the Office of the Ombudsman preventively suspended Evangelista amid the probe into the onion issue.
Remulla added that a separate administrative case will be filed against the three for \”inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties.”
“So far, ito ‘yung nakuha ng ating effort, but marami pa tayong pinag-aaralan na pwedeng i-charge na past officials and present officials of the DA and other offices,” the DOJ chief told reporters.
[Translation: So far, these are the officials we have identified with our ongoing efforts, but there are still several past and present officials of the DA and other offices who may be charged.]
“Prima facie evidence ang hinahanap natin, hindi lang probable cause [We’re looking for prima facie evidence, not just probable cause],” Remulla added. “That’s why we may be a little slower but surer of what we’re doing about how we will prosecute these cases.”
In a statement, Panganiban maintained that there is no truth to the allegations against him, but he said he respects the DOJ and its processes.
“Definitely, I am not involved in agricultural smuggling and have cooperated with law enforcement and investigating bodies,” the BPI director told CNN Philippines in a message.
“I will continue to cooperate and work for what will be for the good of our government and our stakeholders – farmers and consumers alike,” he also said.
CNN Philippines is also trying to get comments from the two other implicated DA officials.
Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation filed on Tuesday an “initial complaint” before the DOJ, although it was not clear who were named as respondents.
He said that aside from the three DA executives, officials from the Bonena Multipurpose Cooperative will also be sued for hoarding, profiteering, and falsification of documents.
“Pina-finalize na ‘yung form ng complaint at kino-consolidate, kasi ano ‘to eh [The form of the complaint is being finalized and consolidated because] we’re talking about thousands of pages…of testimony and documentation,” Remulla said.
