Suspended NFA officials, employees deny involvement in rice sale mess

A total of 108 suspended officials and employees of the National Food Authority (NFA) filed a motion for reconsideration at the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday.

They said they have no involvement in the alleged anomalous sale of rice buffer stocks that led to their preventive suspension.

The group, represented by legal counsel Atty. Raphael Rayco, said among those suspended is one dead employee, two retired employees, and one on study leave.

"Eto po mga bodegero, regional manager, at branch manager, ginagawa lang po nila ministerial duty nila," Rayco said.

("These are warehouse operators and regional managers who are just doing their ministerial duties," Rayco said.)

"They are not exercising discretion in releasing stocks. Upon order from managers sila nag release ng stocks," he added.

(They are not exercising discretion in releasing stocks. They only release stocks upon orders from their managers," he added.)

Rayco said the suspended employees are distressed about their source of livelihood.

"Dahil suspended sila without pay, very uncertain sila about their future, so we are filing this MR at the earliest possible time," he said.

(They are suspended without pay so they are very uncertain about their future, so we are filing this MR at the soonest possible time," he said.)

"We are asking this honorable office to reconsider. Maraming natamaan na employees, wala silang means of livelihood," Rayco added.

(A lot of employees were involved. They have no means of livelihood," he added.)

One of the suspended officials, Jonathan Cabrillas, lamented that because of the suspension, he will not have any income to feed his family.

"Medyo mahirap, eto lang source of livelihood namin, apektado pamilya namin. Ang aming ahensya, apektado rin ang operations," Cabrillas said.

(It's quite hard, this is our only source of livelihood. Our families are affected. Even the operations of our agency is affected," Cabrillas said.)

The 108 who filed are composed of lower-ranking managers. 

Officials like Roderico Bioco and Piolito Santos are expected to file their MRs separately.

Earlier, DA spokesperson Asec. Arnel De Mesa said Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. wanted to expedite the investigation.

"Gusto din ni Sec talaga very soon na yung may pananagutan yun ang magpursige sa investigation and as soon as possible ying mga di kasali or walang pananagutan, isipin mo theyre under preventive suspension without pay mabigat yun kung ordinary empleyado yun ng gobyerno mahirap yun para sa kanilang mga pamilya kung di sila directly involved dapat hindi na makasama sa suspension, but it all depends sa review," De Mesa said.

(Secretary Tiu Laurel wants that only those involved will be investigated, and those who aren't be cleared since suspension without pay is very heavy. It will be hard for their families, but it depends on the review, De Mesa said.)