The legal counsel of rice importers whose shipments have been questioned by the National Food Authority (NFA) on Monday chided the state-run agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA) for unlawfully holding rice shipments brought in by his clients, Silent Royalty Marketing and Starcraft International, and accusing them of allegedly being involved in rice-smuggling operations in Davao.

Lawyer Benito Salazar, lawyer for Silent Royalty Marketing and Starcraft International, advised officials of the NFA, particularly NFA Administrator Orlan Calayag, “to become better acquainted with the laws regarding rice importation” as the agency’s communications to his client “betrays an ignorance of international trade agreements that reflects poorly on the competency and capability of those tasked to manage such a critical agency.”

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