Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered on Saturday the immediate arrest of hoarders of basic commodities and market vendors who overprice food items especially in flood-stricken areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

At the same time, Verzosa instructed all chiefs of police in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to coordinate with the local government units in running after boatmen and drivers of public utility vehicles who have been demanding unreasonable prices in transporting commuters.

Police Director Leopoldo Bataoil, acting PNP spokesman, said Verzosa has instructed the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and commanders in areas affected by tropical storm “Ondoy” to deploy policemen in public markets to assist the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in monitoring the prices of basic commodities.

“This in line with President Arroyo’s order to closely monitor the prices of commodities and safeguard consumers from vendors and hoarders who may turn this calamity an opportunity to jack up the prices of their good and earn more money,” said Bataoil in an interview.

Bataoil said there is legal basis to arrest vendors and hoarders on site since the entire country is under the state of calamity and ceiling on prices of commodities automatically takes effect.

But the official said Verzosa’s order is not only for flood-stricken areas but also across the country, explaining that some vendors in unaffected areas may hoard and increase prices of commodities using the calamity as the reason.