Romualdez warns ‘evil’ onion...

Police confiscated 300 tons of imported onion and garlic in separate raids of warehouses in Manila and Malabon.

“I reiterate my warning to these evil hoarders and unscrupulous businessmen. We are breathing down your necks. Tuldukan na ninyo ang mga gawain na nagpapahirap sa ating mga kababayan (Put an end to these activities of yours that are only plaguing the Filipino people),” he said in a statement on Wednesday, February 22.

Romualdez pointed out that hoarding produces and added burden to the people who have to bear with rising prices amid a rising inflation rate.

“Inaasahan natin na magtutuloy-tuloy ang kampanyang ito laban sa mapagsamantala (We expect that the campaign against these abusive hoarders will be sustained),” he added.

Romualdez earlier ordered the House committee on agriculture and food to probe the spike in prices of onion and garlic due to “unscrupulous traders who are hoarding such products to create an artificial supply shortage.”

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo had filed House Resolution No. 681, which seeks an investigation into the alleged cartel and anticompetitive practices in the onion industry amid the still-rising prices of onions in the local market.

Quimbo pointed out that allegations of onion cartels controlling supply and the possibility of hoarding white onions were flagged by citizens and policymakers as early as August 2022.