Laurel tells officials in NFA controversy to file leave

MANILA, Philippines — The administrator of the National Food Authority and another official who had accused him of illegally selling NFA rice to selected traders have been asked to take a leave of absence while an investigation is ongoing.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. yesterday revealed having instructed NFA administrator Roderico Bioco and his accuser, assistant administrator for operations Lemuel Pagayunan, to both take a leave of absence or be suspended.

“It is best… I strongly advise them to take a leave of absence, at least the head and the accuser, to be fair,” Laurel said in a chance interview at the Hog Festival yesterday at Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

Laurel added that he had already informed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin of the internal investigation after the letter of complaint of Pagayunan reached the Office of the President.

“We already talked about this and this internal investigation is the first step,” Laurel said.

Based on Pagayunan’s letter complaint, which reached the OP on Feb. 13, Bioco issued memoranda allowing the sale of 75,000 bags of NFA rice totaling P93.75 million to certain traders.

“Unfortunately, when the issue erupted, I was abroad, Sri Lanka and Abu Dhabi. I just arrived yesterday. But when I was abroad, I already ordered an internal investigation on this matter and I actually chose people who are not involved in NFA, not even in the DA,” Laurel said.

“We appointed somebody from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to form a team to look into this matter and we will get to the bottom of this issue,” Laurel added.

He said the concerned NFA officials should volunteer to file a leave of absence instead of waiting for him to suspend them.

“If you will ask me, it is better for the warring groups to voluntarily take a leave of absence instead of waiting for me to act but of course, we have to presume innocence for the meantime,” Laurel said.

“We have to be impartial until proven guilty or innocent, so this internal investigation is very important so let us give it time,” he said.

He maintained he personally wanted to determine the root cause of the controversy.

“Of course, once it is clear to me