MANILA, Philippines — Officials and employees of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) signed a manifesto, expressing support for Ignacio Santillana as the agency’s temporary chief and effectively rejected the continued stay of former administrator Hermenegildo Serafica.
“We only acknowledge one leadership now at the Sugar Regulatory Administration in the person of Atty. Ignacio Santillana,” read the manifesto sent to Leocadio Sebastian, undersecretary and chief of staff of the Department of Agriculture.
The manifesto was signed by SRA deputy administrators Santillana, Brando Noroña, Guillermo Tejida III; Ronald Rimando, Department Manager of the SRA’s Legal Department and Marco Soriano by authority of the Sugar Employees Association of the Philippines board.
In the manifesto, the employees cited several laws stating that Serafica’s term as SRA administrator ended with the end of the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to appoint Serafica’s replacement.
—JORDEENE B. LAGARE
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