DILG chief clarifies involvement in alleged extortion case vs NFA administrator

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas answering emails while waiting for his flight. Photo courtesy of Roxas’ official Facebook page.

MANILA – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II clarified on Friday the involvement of his name in the alleged extortion case filed against National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Arthur Juan.

Earlier, a rice trader, Jomerito “Jojo” Soliman, who owns a warehouse in Bulacan province raided by the authorities, claimed that the DILG secretary had something to do with the case.

“I did not have any meeting, conversation or any connection with Mr. Soliman. Not even with Mr. Juan, except with the two or three meetings concerning rice smuggling.

I do not know him before he was appointed as NFA administrator,” Roxas said.

The DILG chief said he would give his full cooperation with the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to find out the truth about Soliman’s claim.

Roxas also assured that the incident will not stop or slow him down in the campaign against those responsible for the unreasonable increase in the prices of consumer goods.

“Hindi rin magiging sagabal ang insidenteng ito para mapatigil ako sa misyon na papanagutin sa batas ang lahat ng responsable sa hindi makatwiran na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Ipagpapatuloy natin ang kampanya, sa tulong ng Philippine National Police, para maibalik sa normal ang presyo ng bigas, bawang at iba pang klase ng pagkain,” he stressed.