Duterte will not hesitate to exercise emergency powers vs rice hoarders

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday warned rice hoarders that he would not hesitate to use emergency powers and ask the military to act against them if he catches any irregularity amid the ongoing effort to solve the rice crisis in Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

“Now, I’m just warning the traders… do not force me to resort to emergency measure,” Duterte said in a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 before leaving for an official visit to Israel and Jordan.

Duterte stressed that he will even ask the military and police to go after rice hoarders and raid their warehouses.

“Kung may nakita ako na (rice) hoarding, I will not hesitate to exercise the powers of the President and I will ask the military and the police to raid your warehouses, bodegas,” he said.

“I can do that, and I said you force me, I will,” he warned.

During his third State of the Nation Address last month, Duterte warned rice hoarders, cartels and smugglers to stop their illegal act or face the consequences.

READ: Duterte warns rice cartels: Stop messing with people

“Stop messing with the people. I hate to. Power sometimes is not a good thing. I hope I will not use it against you. Consider this as a warning,” he said.

The shortage and the high price of the staple was one of the issues that hounded the Duterte administration in the last two years. /ee

READ: Duterte rejects proposal to legalize rice smuggling to curb crisis

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