MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte dismissed calls for Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol and National Food Authority (NFA) officials to resign following the issues on the supply of rice.

Asked at a press conference before his departure to Israel for an official visit, Duterte said he saw no need to remove these officials as he does not see any serious offense committed.

• 3 solons hit DA chief, NFA execs amid rising rice prices

"All of the officials, including me, are bound by laws on the matter. Maybe the laws are weak or unenforceable. All we can do is improve on those laws, not necessarily fire people," he said.

"I do not see any serious offense there. We have not lost anything except that there's an aberration in the market," the President added.

Duterte, however, did not agree with Piñol's proposal to legalize rice smuggled in the southern portion of Mindanao, as it would be "destructive to the economy."

But he said he is open to disposing the rice by giving it away or selling it at a loss.

"Those smuggled rice have not paid any taxes or tarriffs. They are confiscated at the disposal of govt and maybe I shall distribute it for free or go down to the last prices prevailing market," he said.

• Duterte thumbs down proposal to 'legalize' rice smuggling

"Ipagbili natin at a price na malulugi tayo but at a price the Filipino can afford. We can lose but not allow smuggling in the country," he added.

Duterte also took the opportunity to warn rice traders that he could call on law enforcement to get rice stored in warehouses if needed or if he learns of schemes to upend the price of rice.