An official of the Department of Agriculture promised that their department will follow the directive of the Department of Justice.
This is after Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that graft and corruption charges will be filed against some officials of the agency in connection with the controversy involving the storage and price manipulation of onions in December 2022.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa assured that DA operations will not be affected if the officials are suspended.
Among those identified by Remulla are DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, Bureau of Plant Industry Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban and Agriculture Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service officer-in-charge Director Junibert de Sagun.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered a six-month preventive suspension on Evangelista due to alleged irregularities in the purchase of onions that were later sold at Kadiwa stores.
De Mesa said that Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban can appoint an officer-in-charge to ensure that the operation of the DA will not be affected in case the concerned officials are suspended.
