Pinapurihan ni House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chair Mark Enverga ang Enforcement Office ng Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) matapos maghain ng kaso at pagmultahin ng ₱2.42-billion ang 12 indibidwal na sangkot sa onion cartel mula 2019 hanggang 2023.
Aniya isa itong mahalagang hakbang upang mapanagot ang mga nagsasamantala sa mga mamimili at magsasaka.
“We commend the PCC’s Enforcement Office for their thorough investigation and for filing charges against those responsible for manipulating the onion market to the detriment of both our farmers and consumers,” ani Enverga.
Kasama sa kinasuhan ang mga kompanyang Philippine Vieva Group of Companies Inc., Tian Long Corp., La Reina Fresh Vegetables, at Yom Trading Corp., pati na ang “onion queen” na si Lilia “Leah” Cruz, na dati nang nasangkot sa pagpupuslit ng bawang noong 2014.
Hinikayat naman ni Enverga ang Department of Justice (DOJ) at Department of Agriculture (DA) na maghain din ng criminal charges laban sa mga sangkot sa onion cartel.
Nagpasalamat naman si Enverga sa kasamahan na si Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo na siyang nakatuklas sa uganayan ng naturang mga kompanya sa ginawang imbestigasyon ng komite.
“We thank Congresswoman Quimbo for her outstanding work in uncovering the truth behind the onion cartel. Her persistence in connecting the dots between the individuals and companies involved has been invaluable,” giit niya.
Hindi rin aniya ito maisasakatuparan kung hindi dahil sa direktiba ni Speaker Martin Romualdez na imbestigahan kung bakit sumipa ng hanggang ₱700 kada kilo ang sibuyas noong 2022.
“It was Speaker Romualdez’s clear directive that enabled this thorough probe into the onion crisis. His leadership continues to ensure that we hold accountable those who harm our farmers and consumers,” sabi pa niya. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
