Senate starts probe on sugar import fiasco
MANILA, Philippines – The Senate on Tuesday began its probe into the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) supposed approval of the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, which President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. later denied.
The investigation by the Senate blue ribbon panel was prompted by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s privilege speech where he claimed that kickback from sugar importation may reach up to P600 million.
“Let me put it in proper context, 300,000 metric tons of sugar is six million bags. At P50, that is P300 million. At P100, that is an income of P600 million possible ‘tongpats’ na matatanggap (At P100, that is an income of P600 million bribes which they can receive),” he said during the plenary session last August 15.
READ: Zubiri: Sugar importation kickback may reach up to P600 million
Zubiri then called for the resignation of SRA officials involved in the issuance of the “illegal sugar order.”
In the aftermath of the said fiasco, Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian and SRA officials, including its administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, have quit their respective posts.
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