Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. dismissed as a “nuisance case” the graft and administrative complaint filed by farmer groups against officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC).
In a text message to The Situation Report on Friday, January 9, Laurel said the BPI and BoC officials named in the complaint were “just doing their job” as he expressed support for agency personnel who are now facing legal action.
“Nuisance case. Kawawa taga-BoC and BPI that were just doing their job. Net effect naman is tumaas din ang palay prices! So bakit pa kailangan idemanda?” Laurel said in his text message.
The Agriculture Secretary’s statement came after the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and the MAGSASAKA Party-List announced that they had filed criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against BPI Director Glenn F. Panganiban and BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno.
The farmers’ groups accused the respondents of allegedly violating Executive Order No. 93, which suspended the importation of regular milled and well-milled rice from September to October 2025, as well as provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
According to the complaint, the BPI allegedly issued a memorandum establishing “grace periods” that allowed rice shipments to arrive and unload in Philippine ports during the period covered by the import ban.
