House probe on unabated soaring prices of basic goods a ‘warning’ to abusive traders – Young Guns

LEADERS of the so-called “Young Guns” in the House of Representatives cautioned abusive businessmen, particularly those selling basic commodities in the market, against hiking the prices unnecessarily – or the government will be filing cases against them.

“The pronouncements of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez about the investigation is serious, and it should serve as a warning to our unscrupulous businessmen who are engaged in cartels in various industries in the agriculture sector,” House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jay Khonghun of Zambales said.

“Please don’t do it, not at the expense of our poor kababayans. Otherwise, we will be forced to implement the full force of the law. And if worse comes to worst, we can have them to court for economic sabotage, a non-bailable offense,” Khonghun warned.

Reps. Paolo Ortega of La Union and Pammy Zamora of San Juan also agreed.

“We have to protect the interest of our consumers, especially those in the impoverished sector who could hardly make ends meet for their families. In times like these, government intervention is necessary to prevent abuses done with impunity,” Zamora stressed.

Ortega pointed out that “food is an essential part of everyone’s being.”

“Let’s not victimize these people who are in a hand-to-mouth situation. Let’s have some conscience. Let’s make life easier by giving them affordable prices,” Ortega said.

“The poorest of the poor needs nourishment the most among our population, which is a huge part. Imagine they have to grapple with the almost never-ending inflation, yet our business sector still takes advantage of them. This shouldn’t be,” Ortega said.

“Our request is for them (traders) not to make it too costly that it will be unbearable to our fellow Filipinos,” Zamora added.