Senator Risa Hontiveros has expressed her suspicion regarding President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s decision to lift the price restrictions on rice. She remarked that it appeared the government’s true intention was to instill fear and anxiety in the public.

“The price cap and the padlocking of rice warehouses was a show of dramatic action to help shore up the popularity of the Administration. Seemingly, its true purpose was to induce widespread concern and panic, to prepare the public sentiment for extraordinary and irregular moves, like the importation of rice by the government itself,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“The claim that cartels, hoarders, and price manipulators were responsible (but thwarted by the price cap) remains unproven, even months after the President ordered an investigation. Sana sa pagtatapos ng price cap, may mga nakasuhan at naparusahan na,” she added.

Hontiveros emphasized that it was the rice retailers who were affected by the imposed price ceiling.

“The primary aim of the price cap was to penalize hoarders expected to drive up prices in September. Unfortunately, it was the rice retailers who bore the brunt, subsequently queuing up for partial compensation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” she said.

Photo: Mon Lazaro