MANILA, Philippines Despite the unabated global increase in prices of food and fuel, the chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) on Friday said he was confident that food riots are unlikely to happen in the country.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza said food riots could happen in extreme situations such as when a countrys currency drastically loses its value or when there is severe food supply shortage.
He said the possibility of extreme situations happening is there, but the Philippines at this time has the capability and capacity to ensure that nobody goes hungry.
Sa tingin ko ngayon sabi ko unlikely. Kung wala na talagang pagkain e, ang dami namang pagkain (kung) exteme na lang na wala ka talagang makain na, pero ngayon meron ka naman, kung magpapakasipag ka meron kang makakain. (I think it (the occurrence of food riots) is unlikely. Maybe, if theres really nothing to eat, but theres plenty of food. If you are industrious, you would find food)," Prestoza told reporters.
He said one way out for those who do not have steady incomes is to return to the provinces and plant food. He noted that there are plenty of uncultivated lands in the countrysides.
Prestoza chided leftist groups for trying to project that the crises is that bad.
Nakikita ko kasi ngayon continuous ang pag-eexploit nito ng mga linyang kaliwa they are projecting na napakalaki na ng problema, ganyan ganyan pero ang nakakatawa nito is wala naman silang sinasabing alternatibo, puro lang hinaing wala naman silang sinasabi o walang naman silang initiative para gumawa ng paraan dito sa mga nakikita nila at sinasabi na problema (Left-leaning groups are exploiting the problem as if it is so big but they dont offer any alternatives)," he added.
Prestoza gave the interview at Camp Aguinaldo, the AFPs national headquarters, a day after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the inclusion of the Isafp in the restructured Energy Contingency Task Force, whose function is to formulate plans and policies to address the impact of the rising cost of oil on the majority o the people."
The task force, formerly called the Energy Operations Board, will be under the National Food and Energy Council. Among its members are the secretaries of Trade and Industry, Budget and Management, Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Development, the director generals of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Philippine Information Agency, and the chairman of the Commission on Higher Education.
The task force is headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes is the operations officer.
Prestoza said the ISAFP was included in the task force because food and energy are vital to national security. He explained that since the continuing increase in fuel prices, which are affecting the prices of other commodities, is a threat to national security.
He said ISAFP agents will help monitor and gather information related to food and fuel prices to help guide the task force in responding to the crises.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr, however, expressed concern that the ISAFP was being tapped to harass groups protesting against the governments policies on food and energy.
In a radio interview, the opposition leader warned militant groups against possible infiltration of military intelligence agents into their ranks and other harassment tactics. - GMANews.TV