Lawmakers say more answers needed on probe of ‘Sibuyas Queen’

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food has vowed to pursue the answers to “the web of controversies” it has unraveled during congressional inquiries on overpriced onions.

At the same time, Reps. Wilfrido

Mark Enverga of Quezon and Stella Quimbo of Marikina City urged law enforcement and regulatory agencies to take a close look at the findings of the panel in order to build an airtight case against those who have blatantly burdened consumers with the absurdly high prices of onions in late 2022.

After nine marathon hearings of the committee on the onion price surge, Quimbo was able to piece together an “Onion matrix” detailing the depth of

“Sibuyas Queen” Leah Cruz’s influence and control over onion importation, cold storage facilities, and trucking companies.

“I think this time there is a solid evidence against those involved in the controversy,” Enverga told reporters in a joint press conference with Quimbo.

According to Enverga, Cruz was able to have her way in the onion industry

TRAPPED. Rescuers from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Bureau of Fire Protection bring out some of the people who were trapped in their houses in Estero de Magdalena in Recto, Binondo after a large tree fell over them. Several residents are reportedly in critical.

Norman Cruz