THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to gather “actionable information” on anyone manipulating the price of, or hoarding and profiteering from agricultural products, including pork and chicken.
“We have expressed to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry our willingness to participate in the proposed sub-task group on economic intelligence. Pursuant to that manifestation, the DOJ will issue a department order directing the NBI to gather actionable information that may be used to run after hoarders and profiteers reportedly manipulating the prices of pork, vegetables, and other basic foodstuff, ” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the creation of an “economic intelligence” group to go after smugglers, profiteers, and hoarders of agricultural products, after the prices of pork recently skyrocketed to P450 due to supposed low supply.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the President approved during the Cabinet meeting the creation of the sub-task force amid speculations that some hog raisers and traders had been manipulating pork supply to increase its prices.
“The government won’t let it pass if there were groups and traders that are taking advantage of the pandemic,” Nograles said in a televised briefing.
Led by the departments of agriculture and trade and industry, the group is composed of the departments of justice, interior and local government, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine Competition Commission, National Security Council, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
