Philippines to get tough with rice hoarders

MANILA: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday pledged to lead the fight against rice price paddling as the Government announced criminal complaints filed against 13 rice hoarders.

Speaking on a meeting with officials of the National Price Coordinating Council, Arroyo said she was leading the charge to crack down on any form of corruption by public or private persons who would divert supplies or pervert rice prices.

"Anyone caught stealing rice from the people must be thrown in jail," she said. Arroyo said the authority has already taken steps to prevent Filipinos, especially the poor, being held hostages to tightened rice supplies by corrupt practices of "unscrupulous traders with their accomplices in the bureaucracy."

Arroyo's pledge came as the National Bureau of Investigation announced criminal complaints filed against 13 rice traders in recent weeks.

Eleven of the 13 were accused of illegal price manipulation while one was accused of hoarding and unauthorized possession of government rice and another one with diversion of Government stocks.

Department of Justice has issued the subpoenas Tuesday and the respondents are given ten days to respond to the subpoena.