The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) gave six big-time supermarkets which were subpoenaed for alleged overpricing until October 16 to submit counter-affidavits or position papers on the findings of the NBI-Department of Trade Industry (DTI) on alleged overpricing amid the national calamity.

Deputy Director for Intelligence Services lawyer Ruel Lasala said the subpoenaed traders were given until October 16 to submit their counter-affidavits or position papers on the findings.

“The NBI-DTI will evaluate all documents to determine if they indeed violated regulation on price ceiling. If they will be found violating such law, then we will recommend filing of charges against them,” said Lasala

Last Friday, representatives of the six big-time supermarkets appeared at the NBI to maintain that that they are complying with the laws as the bureau continued its operations against overpricing.

Joint personnel of the NBI and DTI started conducting inspections on groceries and supermarkets since Oct. 5

“Of the 34 supermarkets and establishments inspected by the joint monitoring teams since Monday in Quezon City, Makati, Muntinlupa, Pasay and Manila, 11 of them found of possibly violating the regulation on price ceiling being implemented by the Department of Trade Industry. There are six establishments subpoenaed because some of the 11 are just branches,” said Lasala in an interview.

Head Agent Roland Argabioso, chief of NBI Field Operations Division (FOD), said officials of the DTI-National Capital Region headed by Assistant Secretary Angel Pelayo also attended the interaction meeting with the subpoenaed traders and their representatives to reiterate the stand of the government to prevent overpricing amid the national calamity due to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

The Save More Drug explained to NBI and DTI officials that the store is a small convenient store lacking sufficient manpower to tag the new list by the DTI last October 2, 2009 or after its initial list issued last September 28, 2009. Its representative, lawyer Tristala Fajante, said it is a convenient store not classified as a supermarket and wet market and that the overhead cost is higher because they are operating on a 24-hour basis.

Lawyer Gilbert Millado Jr. of Robinsons Supermarket said they are complying with the DTI list and that they are relying on postings of DTI in its website. They said their establishments were inspected last Oct. 5 this year and that the new DTI price list was only posted last Oct. 8, although that it (price list) was published earlier in papers.

The SM Group of Companies’ representative lawyer Josefina Remollo said they would soon submit their position paper on the matter.

Plaza Fair’s representative, Danny Patalinhug, maintained that they are complying with the DTI’s price list ever since and maintained their prices. However, some of their suppliers’ prices are higher than that of the price mandated by DTI. He said it is thus sound business practice that there is a mark-up of prices.

Evelyn Nacional of Parco stressed they have been complying with DTI price list, saying there was a glitz which is the computer transfer for the main office to the branch office.

The NBI joined DTI in closely monitoring prices of commodities and effecting arrest on violators amid reports that some businessmen are resorting to overpricing following the declaration of national calamity due to typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

Lasala tapped all units in the Intelligence Services to conduct strict monitoring on traders amid reports of overpricing in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

He said several NBI teams belonging to Intelligence Services have been deployed to join personnel of DTI to conduct operations and effect arrest on violators found engaging in overpricing. Reports said some traders have started to take advantage of the national state of calamity declaration.