NFA chief favors select importers

NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Laureano Aquino snubbed the NFA Council’s resolution, defied rice import guidelines and breached administrative protocol in issuing import permits to three selected importers, a source familiar with the issue and who requested anonymity told The Manila Times over the weekend.

“The administrator should issue the import permits only after he has received favorable endorsements from his deputies,” the source said. “That he issued the import permits to three importers absent the recommendations from the responsible officials is a clear violation of the NFA guidelines. He could face administrative charges as a consequence.”