President Rodrigo Duterte聽on Monday聽defended his decision to sack an undersecretary over the controversial issue of rice importation.
He said former Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Reina A. Valdez of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary 鈥渟igned and approved鈥� the importation of rice, overruling National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Aquino.
Valdez earlier explained that it was the National Food Authority Council (NFAC) that ruled the extension of the deadline for rice importation. She said she only voted in behalf of the Cabinet Secretary and that she had no influence over the high-ranking officials who are members of the council.
But Duterte criticized Valdez for not letting the Office of the President rule on the matter.
He said Aquino appealed the decision.
鈥淭he higher office is the Office of the President. It never reached my desk,鈥� Duterte said during a press conference at the Davao International Airport.
He said that he allowed the Cabinet cluster to decide.
鈥淭hey overruled Jason, allowed importation. And itong babae si (this woman) Valdez, signed, approved the importation,鈥� he said.
Duterte said Valdez should have forwarded the council鈥檚 recommendation to the Office of the President.
鈥淗indi 鈥榶an inyo (That is not yours)鈥 will decide to grant or disapprove it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he official procedure, isauli mo sa akin 鈥榶an (is that you will return it to me) with recommendation and I will sign it.鈥�
鈥淵ou are not the Office of the President,鈥� he said, adding that NFA is under his office. 鈥淟inagay 鈥榶an sa Office of the President so you do not have any authority signing.鈥�
Duterte said that the harvest of rice is 鈥済ood鈥� based on his last visit to Nueva Ecija.
鈥淏akit ka mag-import ngayon ng bigas (Why would you import rice)鈥�? Patay ang farmers (The farmers will die),鈥� he said.
The President said he is ordering Aquino to buy rice from local producers.
鈥淯nahin mo muna 鈥榶ung atin鈥hen if there is shortfall you might decide to import. In the meantime if may surplus wag nyong kumptensyahan yung farmers natin,鈥� he said.
(Prioritize our farmers鈥hen if there is a shortfall, you might decide to import. In the meantime, if there is a surplus, do not compete with our farmers.)
鈥淭hat is the proper way of governing the nation,鈥� Duterte said.
The President denied that his Cabinet members are quarreling with each other.
鈥淭here is no infighting. There is no ruckus. There is no trouble there. I just don鈥檛 like people who are corrupt,鈥� he said without going into details on the corruption claim. JE/rga