Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has visited prosecutors' offices in Manila to see charges laid against traders accused of hoarding rice.

Mrs Arroyo demanded that she witness the filing of criminal charges at the Department of Justice against 33 people accused of hoarding, diverting subsidised rice and other illegal practices.

The justice department has formed an anti-rice hoarding task force to lead the prosecution of those caught hoarding the commodity or diverting subsidised rice to commercial traders.

The Arroyo government says it will continue to import rice, despite a surge in world prices, to secure supplies ahead of traditional lean months from July to September.

The government has been struggling to find ways to ensure access to subsidised rice for the poor.

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