“The greedy rice cartels are operating again by using the tested and proven scare tactics of a rice shortage to justify the increase of prices in the market and to pressure government into allowing more imported rice to be brought into the country,” sabi ni Pinol.
Idinagdag ni Pinol na tatlong linggo bago pumutok ang umano’y shortage sa NFA rice, may hinala na siya na may sabwatan para palabasin na may kakulangan sa suplay ng bigas na ang layunin ay magdulot ng panic.
“I suspected that the plan was to use the rice shortage propaganda as an excuse to increase the price rice in the market and allow importation,” ayon pa kay Pinol.
Idinagdag ni Pinol na dapat magsagawa ng inspeksyon sa mga warehouse ng bigas sa buong bansa para mapatunayan ang kanyang alegasyon ng pagtatago ng bigas.
“It is also recommended that the proper government agencies should make rounds of the markets to ensure that rice is not priced unreasonably,” ayon pa kay Pinol.