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MANILA, Philippines —  Six rice traders with either “interlocking” directors or similar office addresses have raised red flags in the ongoing Senate investigation into smuggling of agricultural products in the country.

At Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate committee on agriculture, its chairman Sen. Francis Pangilinan disclosed that four companies had delivered imported rice to Arvin International Marketing Inc.

Located in Calaca, Batangas, Arvin International is engaged in agricultural products and chemical and has been doing business for the past 23 to 24 years, according to its president, Joseph Yao.

Yao is also the president of Renzy International Marketing Inc. which, he said, was established in 2020 but only started importing rice in 2023.

At first, Pangilinan asked Yao during the hearing if he was familiar with Beatus Grain Emporium Corporation, Atara Marketing Inc., Manus Dei Resource Ent. Inc. and Orison Free Enterprise.

When Yao answered in the negative, Pangilinan cited import clearance documents which showed Beatus had imported about 520,000 kilos of well-milled rice “but its final destination is Arvin International marketing.”

“We have records here that, for example, there are four  companies — Beatus, Atara, Orison and Manus Dei — and they have interlocking directors,” the senator added.

“Our concern is, is the rice importation likewise being controlled, manipulated by a few traders which have been able to corner these Sanitary and Phytosanitary permits issued by the DA (Department of Agriculture)?” Pangilinan later asked, citing a similar case last year involving onion traders.

Yao, however, noted that there are more than 100 importers in the country and he said, “it would be very difficult to connive with each other.”

But that remains to be seen, according to Pangilinan, as he went on to cite many similarities linking the six rice importers — Arvin, Renzy, Beatus, Atara, Manus and Orison.

Atara, Manus and Orison, for instance, were located in the same street in the City of Manila as shown in a photo presented during the hearing.

“[They are in] just one street. Just one area. And mind you, Orison, Manus Dei and Beatus are the top  importers of rice. So how do you explain that they happen to be in the same address, they happen to be interlocking directors, or it appears  to be interlocking directors?” Pangilinan then asked.

Even the board members of Beatus and Atara identified as Warren Lumbang and Raiza Lumbang, have similar addresses in Lubao, Pampanga, the senator also noted.

Pangilinan likewise revealed that five of the six traders have one attorney-in-fact, whom he identified as Brix Sadama.

Notably, Sadama has also listed at least three different addresses, according to the senator.

“It seems that off hand, of course this is not definitive and conclusive, but there are red flags showing that there are interlocking corporations, importers who seem to be working together to bring in the rice and to make the most of out the opportunity of their  hugeness,” Pangilinan said.

“Their status as major players gives them the power to influence the markets,” he surmised.

The senator then asked the committee to invite to its next hearing all individuals linked to the six  rice importers.

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), for its part, vowed to look into Pangilinan’s revelations.

In fact, BPI Director Gerard Glenn Panganiban told the committee that they have already started auditing the more than 100 rice importers in the country following the discovery of an onion cartel last year. /apl

Source : msn