THE House Committee on Agriculture and Food yesterday ordered the release of three individuals who were cited in contempt last week for refusing to turn over to lawmakers the complete list of their clients who stored red onions in their cold storage facility in Nueva Ecija late last year when prices were skyrocketing because of alleged hoarding of supplies.
The committee chaired by Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga met at around 1 p.m. in an executive session to consider the appeal of Argo cold storage lawyer Ryan Jan Cruz to lift the contempt orders issued by the committee during its March 7, 2023 inquiry on the possible hoarding and other acts of price manipulation of agricultural commodities.
Cruz was cited in contempt along with operations John Patrick Sevilla and Argo president Efren Zoleta Jr.
“Signifying their willingness to cooperate, help in the ongoing inquiry and having complied with the documentary requirements requested, the committee unanimously agreed to lift the contempt orders and begin the process of their release,” Enverga said in a statement.
Earlier yesterday, Zoleta Jr. and Cruz voluntarily turned themselves in at the House.
They initially joined Sevilla, who has been held at the detention center since March 7.
Sevilla, who attended the hearing, was immediately detained but Zoleta and Cruz, who were both absent, were ordered arrested by Enverga after 35 out of 49 members of the panel voted in favor of the motion of Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (PL, SAGIP).
Marcoleta had slammed the three ARGO Trading executives for what he said was their “outright lie.”
“I take this opportunity to reiterate the warning of our Speaker: We will not hesitate to use the full powers of the House of Representatives to ferret out who were behind the price manipulation of onion and other agricultural products,” Enverga said.
“If need be, we will effect the arrest of those who refuse to cooperate with our investigation. Ipakukulong din po namin ang mga magtatangkang magsinungaling sa aming mga hearing (We’ll also detain all who will attempt to lie in our hearings),” he said.
Enverga said the instruction of Speaker Martin Romualdez was very clear: To unmask those who are behind the price manipulation, dismantle the cartel and charge all those involved to bring down the prices of onions and other agricultural products.
“Kailangang makilala kung sino ang bumubuo ng kartel na nagmamanipula ng presyo ng bilihin. Kailangang buwagin ang mga kartel na ito na nagpapahirap sa bayan (We have to unmask all cartel members who manipulate the prices of basic commodities. We have to bring down this cartel which is causing hardship to our country),” he added.
The panel has also issued a subpoena for alleged bigtime onion hoarder Leah Cruz, who is also known as the “Sibuyas Queen,” and another resource person, Ernesto Francisco on the motion of Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo.
Cruz and Francisco could not attend the panel’s last hearing because they had to be at the Sandiganbayan to attend a hearing, but the panel still decided to issue the subpoena to reiterate its demand for the two resource persons to participate.
