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Arroyo warns of tough action against hoarders
President Gloria Arroyo called on Congress to enact tougher legislation to protect consumer rights as she warned of an impending government crackdown on corrupt public officials and private individuals taking advantage of high food prices.
- By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 23:38 April 8, 2008
Manila: President Gloria Arroyo called on Congress to enact tougher legislation to protect consumer rights as she warned of an impending government crackdown on corrupt public officials and private individuals taking advantage of high food prices.
"Anyone caught stealing rice from the people, we will seek to throw in jail," Arroyo said in her opening remarks at the joint National Poverty Commission-National Economic and Development Authority (NAPC-NEDA) cabinet group at the presidential palace yesterday.
Arroyo said she would submit to Congress a "Consumers Bill of Rights" which provides for stiff penalties against merchants caught hoarding rice and other commodities.
Current laws pertaining to hoarding are deemed too lenient to put the fear of the law in wrongdoers.
Harsher penalties
Those charged with hoarding critical commodities, as of now, stand to lose their business licences. Under the Consumers Bill of Rights, however, unscrupulous traders will face imprisonment among other penalties.
Arroyo said the new Bill proposed to reinforce the clauses to protect and defend consumers while at the same time strengthening "penalties against those individuals or entities that abuse the right of our people to basic commodities."
"We are determined to stop corruption and protect consumers," she said, adding that the Bill would also punish government officials working in collusion with traders.
Unscrupulous traders and corrupt government officials have been blamed for rising prices of rice in recent weeks.
Arroyo's speech yesterday marks the second time in three weeks that she has underscored the need for a Consumers Bill of Rights to protect people from those resorting to hoarding and other unscrupulous practices. The government Action Plan to address food shortages calls for securing supplies, proper distribution and adequate safeguards for the populace.
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