MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday lifted the preventive suspension order slapped on some National Food Authority (NFA) personnel from Iloilo and Antique.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires said the warehouse supervisors from Iloilo and Antique were among the 23 NFA personnel cleared from involvement in the alleged sale of rice buffer stocks to favored traders.
According to Martires, the suspension order was recalled after investigators from his office found erroneous data on the list provided to them by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“Sa 23 (lifted preventive suspensions) walang nakitaan ang imbestigador na participation itong mga ito except sa sinunod lang ‘yung utos sa itaas,” Martires said in an interview on DZBB AM radio on Friday.
“So kung mayroon kaming pagkakamali sa listahan na ‘yan, hindi namin kasalanan ‘yun, kung mali. Hindi ko alam kung sino nangloko sa amin, so ipinaimbesgitahan ko rin ito,” he added.
On March 4, the Ombudsman slapped a 90-day preventive suspension on around 139 NFA officials and personnel as part of its investigation into the supposed “disadvantageous” sale of rice buffer stocks to selected traders.
Among those included in Ombudsman’s suspension order are NFA administrator Roderico Bioco and assistant administrator for operations John Robert Hermano.
Upon the release of the suspension order, some of the concerned NFA officials and personnel have filed a motion for reconsideration (MR) before the Ombudsman.
However, Martires clarified that the lifting of the suspension order has nothing to do with the motion, but based on their participation on the issue.
“Hindi kami naglilinis ng listahan. Nagi-imbestiga kami ano ba talaga ang partisipasyon ng mga taong ito,” Martires said. “The lifting of the suspension is not because of the MR.”/PN
