Ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang imbestigasyon sa hoarding, smuggling at price fixing ng sibuyas at iba lang agri products sa bansa, na ayon sa pangulo ay maituturing na economic sabotage.
Ayon kay Pangulong Marcos, ang NBI at DOJ ang mangunguna sa pagsisiyasat na ito.
“I have just given instructions to the DOJ and the NBI to initiate an investigation into the hoarding, smuggling (and) price fixing of agricultural commodities. And this is stemming from the hearing that we’ve conducted in the House, specifically by Congresswoman Stella Quimbo and the findings that they came up with.” —Pangulong Marcos.
Bunsod na rin ito ng resulta ng imbestigasyong ginawa ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso kung saan lumalabas na mayroong mga ebidensya ang nagpatunay na nagi-exist ang onion cartel sa bansa, dahilan kung bakit sumipa ang presyo ng sibuyas noong 2022.
“The hearings highlighted the sharp increase in onion prices starting in July 2022, attributed to a perceived shortage of supply. However, data from the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry revealed only a modest shortage of approximately 7.56 percent in 2022, which could not justify the significant inflation rates reaching 87 percent in December of that year.” —PCO Sec Garafil.
Sa memorandum na ipinadala sa pangulo, nakasaad na ang cartel ay nag-engage sa iba’t ibang aktibidad tulad ng farming, importation, local trading, warehousing, at logistics.
“She said that the cartel, operating primarily through the Philippine VIEVA Group of Companies Inc. (PVGCI), has engaged in various activities including farming, importation, local trading, warehousing, and logistics.” —PCO Sec Garafil.
Ayon kay Pangulong Marcos, napakahalaga ng findings ng imbestigasyong ito, dahil sapat na grounds ito, upang makapagsimula ng imbestigasyon ang pamahalaan, lalo’t kailangan ng bansa na tugunan ang mga kaso ng economic sabotahe.
“And that is why we are going to be very, very strict about finding these people and making sure that they are brought to justice,” —Pangulong Marcos.| ulat ni Racquel Bayan
