Pangilinan denies alleged extortion; rejects NFA administrator’s resignation

Secretary Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, shows the effect of the coco infestation “Aspidiotus Rigidus” to coconut trees at the sidelines of the launching of “Sama-samang Aksyon ng Gobyerno, Industriya at Pamayanan sa Malawakang Pagsugpo ng Pesteng Cocolisap” (SAGIP) program on Friday (June 20) at Barangay Potol, Tayabas, Quezon. (PNA photo by Gil S. Calinga)

MANILA — Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agriculture Modernization Secretary Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan denied on Friday alleged extortion by National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Arthur Juan and his assistant, Atty. Patricia Galang, which led to the tendering of resignation of the two.

Pangilinan, in a press conference, however, said he did not accept the resignation of the two NFA officials.

The food security czar said he convinced Juan and Galang not to step down from their posts.

“Kinumbinsi ko po ang dalawa na hindi magbitiw. Silang dalawa naman po ay pumayag. Ang sa atin lang, ang kanilang pagbibitiw or their offer to resign ay patunay na hindi sila interesado sa posisyon na ito at handa silang magbitiw kung kinakailangan. Hindi po sila kapit sa posisyon. Dahil naniniwala din po silang wala silang kasalanan at hindi po sila gumawa ng ganitong klaseng mga paratang,” said Pangilinan during the press conference.

Juan, at the same press conference, also denied allegation made by rice trader Jomerito “Jojo” Soliman, who owned a warehouse in Bulacan province raided by the authorities.

In a sworn statement submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday, Soliman accused Juan and Galang of extorting a total of P15 million from him in exchange for the dropping of charges against him and the reopening of his padlocked warehouse.

“I would like to categorically state that the allegations of Mr. Jojo Soliman are not true. They are baseless and mere fabrication,” said Juan.

Pangilinan said the case arose when authorities conducted inspection in the first week of July at the warehouse of Soliman in Malolos, Bulacan wherein they saw the mixing of animal feeds with Thai rice and being passed on as Sinandomeng Rice.

“This is part of our efforts based on the directive of the President (Benigno Aquino III) that we go after unscrupulous traders taking advantage of the situation as regards the prices of rice,” he said.

Meanwhile, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a press briefing in Malacanang Friday, said that from the point of view of Pangilinan, the allegation “is but a mere diversionary tactic to divert attention away from actually answering the cases that were filed against that particular rice trader.”

As for Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who was implicated by Soliman in the extortion issue, Valte said the DILG chief belied all accusations.

“He (Roxas) does not know this person (Soliman) and he has not had any dealings with him,” said Valte based on her phone conversation with Roxas.

In fact, she said, Roxas is calling for a full investigation on the matter “just so he has an opportunity to clear his name.”