MANILA (UPDATE) — The Office of the Ombudsman has lifted the preventive suspension of dozens of National Food Authority warehouse supervisors implicated in the allegedly irregular sale of rice buffer stock to select traders, saying their continued assignment to rice warehouses would influence the ongoing investigation.

The 72 warehouse supervisors were among 139 NFA officials and employees put on a six-month preventive suspension on March 1.

RELATED: NFA can still function despite mass suspension of personnel — DA exec

The suspension stemmed from administrative charges of Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service over the sale of NFA rice to select traders at a low price and without public bidding or authorization from the NFA Council.

The supervisors are assigned to warehouses across Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccskargen,Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

In lifting the order, the Ombudsman noted that the point of preventive suspensions is to keep respondents from influencing an investigation and to preserve evidence  that may be under the respondents’  control and custody.

READ: House panel to investigate alleged improper disposition of NFA rice stock

It said that the documents under the warehouse supervisors’ control are already with the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Moreover, there is insufficient ground to believe that their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against them,” it also said.

“Thus, the continued preventive suspension of the afore-named Warehouse Supervisors is no longer necessary.”

WHO ARE BEING REINSTATED?

The Office of the Ombudsman has lifted the preventive suspensions of the following warehouse supervisors:

1. Arace Buenaventura
2. Luigi Balbin
3. Catherine Magcalas
4. Rodel De Vera
5. Michael Soriano
6. Luzille Pineda
7. John Richard Atayde
8. Raul Balbuena
9. Ma. Sherwin Camille Paulo
10. Baby Esguerra
11. Amparo Gaspar
12. Mia Kristel Chico
13. Rosalina Naguit
14. Lauro Castro
15. Richard Ildefonso
16. Gemarie Asturias,
17. Cherryhill Mejico
18. Gemini Hernandez
19. Allen Marvin De Leon
20. Rubelyn Landicho
21. Angelo Gregorio Ortega
22. Jovino Paje III
23. Vevencio Balaoro
24. Jonathan Cabrillas
25. Ronald Undecimo
26. Rex Francis Zantua
27. Kevin Guevarra
28. Glen Saldevia
29. Irah Razote
30. Marianne Alit
31. Janice Marie Pabe
32. Raquel Carredo
33. Genesis Zaspa
34. Jowel Antiquina
35. Dexter Navarro
36. Andriano Sorobin
37. Leticia Medel
38. Lumerito Macugay
39. Jason Lim
40. Rosemarie Miro
41. Rosaro Rendon
42. Alemar Celecious
43. Marco Sergio Bodiongan III
44. Judie Ann Bongawan
45. Almer Sunga
46. Romulo Namurag III
47. John Ver Chua
48. Junrie Dumas
49. Catherine Torregosa
50. Roque Ubias,
51. Jeremy Caballero
52. Cristina Carcel
53. Rose Baito
54. Emily Delos Reyes
55. Peter Nulia
56. Gladys Bretaña
57. Rita Porto
58. Abraham Cahucom
59. Maribel Balbin
60. Marjorie Aline Dela Cruz
61. Joel Valenzuela
62. Jennevive Romero
63. Joy Cabrera,
64. Pepito Jumamoy
65. Meriam Akas
66. Anna Marie Amores
67. Jayson Inso
68. Amelia Leysa,
69. Asmara Bancola,
70. Al-Jade Alfonso
71. Ma. Susan Pawah
72. Kenney Guerrero

— with a report by Robert Mano, ABS-CBN News

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