Romualdez warns of jail time for resource persons who lie during agri probe

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 19) — House Speaker Martin Romualdez warned resource persons attending the probe into hoarding of agricultural products: lie and you will be sent to jail.

"I cannot stress enough for these resource persons the importance of cooperating with the committee: lie to lawmakers and you will all find yourselves in jail," said Romualdez in a statement on Sunday, stressing that the committee's mission is to reduce the prices of onions and dismantle the vegetable cartel.

The House inquiry on hoarding and skyrocketing prices of produce will resume on Tuesday.

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"We need to lower the prices of onions and decimate the cartel the soonest possible time. And I guarantee the imprisonment of those exploitative and abusive individuals and business owners behind the cartel. Our constituents need an immediate reprieve from the high prices of agricultural goods," Romualdez said.

He added those who help these "unscrupulous individuals" would likewise not be spared as they are considered equally guilty.