FILE PHOTO: Senator Risa Hontiveros (left) and Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez.
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang had objected to the initial proposal to import 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar into the country, Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez asserted Tuesday.
At the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Rodriguez if he or President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had voiced opposition to the proposed importation of 300,000 MT of sugar.
“Yes, Your Honor, may opposition po at ang opposition ho mismo ay galing samin,” Rodriguez answered.
(Yes, Your Honor, we were opposed.)
The Executive Secretary noted that they were asking for an importation plan when they were discussing the recommendation to import the 300,000 MT of sugar.
“We objected dun sa initial amount of 300,000 MT,” Rodriguez stressed, further explaining that he “purposely” asked for a draft of Sugar Order No. 4 to compare it with the import plan.
Sugar Order No. 4 contains the proposal to import 300,000 MT of sugar that was later approved by suspended Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, supposedly without the knowledge of the President.
READ: Bongbong Marcos did not oppose proposed sugar importation program, says DA execs
For Hontiveros, however, Rodriguez’s request for a draft sugar order during a meeting last August 4 “doesn’t look like an objection.”
“At most, clarification,” she pointed out. “Kasi kung nag o-object talaga, tumututol talaga, ayaw talaga, I don’t think government would even ask for a draft of a sugar order.”
“Ayon po kay ES, they opposed the 300,000, it seems there’s a confusion po, Mr. Chair, as to what the President intended,” the senator likewise said.
To gain more insight into the issue, Hontiveros moved to subpoena the August 4 Zoom meeting on sugar importation issues supposedly attended by the President, Rodriguez, and current and former officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
But blue ribbon panel chairman Senator Francis Tolentino said they have yet to discuss whether the panel has the right to subpoena the requested information without violating the privilege of communications between the President and his subalterns.
When Rodriguez first appeared before the committee last August 23, he admitted that he requested a plan and a draft order for the proposed importation of 300,000 MT of sugar, among others, in case there is a need for the government to resort to another round of sugar importation.
“I also asked who will be accredited, and an answer to our query if the PITC (Philippine International Trading Corporation) may import on behalf of industrial and for home consumption sugars and finally, if we may be given a draft Sugar Order for their proposed 300,000 metric tons new round of importation,” the Executive Secretary said then.
RELATED STORY
Bongbong Marcos mentioned 600,000 MT in import sugar meeting, says ex-SRA exec