PNP Chief, believes there is no rice crisis in the country

Miami
April 14, 2008
Story: PNP Chief, believes there is no rice crisis in the country

Philippine National police Chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon assures the public that the country will not experience food riot, or people will fight each other because of lack of food.

“That will not happen (food riot) because we still have enough supply of food especially rice for our countrymen,” Razon said in the 2nd anniversary of Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP).

The Chief is confident that the country has sufficient stocks of rice that can be properly distributed or sell to the public in much cheaper price than the commercial rice. He also said that they are coordinating with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Food Authority (NFA) for proper distribution and proper pricing of the NFA rice.

“We have to monitor the distribution and pricing of the rice because the people might riot because they have to fall in line and wait for their turn, of course all of them want to avail the cheap rice being sold to NFA retailer outlets. So we rally have to maintain peace and order,” Razon said.

Razon also believed it is not necessary for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to declare State of Emergency, “I will reiterate again, we do not have rice crisis, there is no reason for panic buying also.”

He also added that the PNP-CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) is also working with the NFA, DA and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the possible location of those who are hoarding the rice.