Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the mere fact that suspended Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian did sign for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 is “more than enough grounds to fire him.”
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Francis ‘Tol’ N. Tolentino said the panel is set to release the full report of its inquiry findings into the sugar importation mess.
United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) President Manuel Lamata accused resigned Sugar Regulatory Authority Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica of supposedly making the sugar industry players believe that there is an existing scarcity in the supply of sugar in the local market.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday formally issued a subpoena to Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez after the Palace official once again skipped the Senate’s ongoing inquiry in connection with the sugar importation fiasco.
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Francis ‘Tol’ N. Tolentino said the supposed lack of ‘outright authorization’ on the controversial issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 makes the said policy ‘illegal.’
Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee should allow its members to cross-examine Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez before concluding its inquiry related to the sugar importation fiasco.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee may release its partial report next week related to its inquiry on the controversial sugar import order.
Senator Risa Hontiveros called out anew Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez over his intention to skip the scheduled Senate investigation next week in connection with the supposed irregularities on the issuance of Sugar Order No. 4.
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Francis Tolentino bared that Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez will once again skip the next Senate inquiry in relation with a controversial order that should’ve led to the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
The planned importation of 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar would still be reviewed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to Malacañang.
