Senator Risa Hontiveros holds a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Hontiveros office)
MANILA, Philippines — The selection of the three sugar importers tagged in a sugar importation mess is “irregular” as it cannot be determined how they became the “most capable” traders in the country, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday.
Hontiveros earlier said that three importers were identified to receive sugar allocations despite a lack of sugar orders. The traders are All Asian Countertrade, Sucden Philippines Inc., and Edison Lee Marketing Corporation.
“Irregular talaga… In the absence of a sugar order, which is already irregular in itself, kahit pa nagkaroon ng sugar order, hindi natin masasabi na tatlo lang at itong tatlo pa ang pinaka-capable na mag-meet sa criteria,” the senator said in a press conference.
(It is irregular. In the absence of a sugar order, which is already irregular in itself, and even though there is, we cannot say that these three are the most capable of meeting the criteria.)
Hontiveros pointed out that the price of sugar may go down if there are many competitors at play.
“Usually, kapag mga importation, ‘di hamak na mas marami ang mga importers,” she added.
(Usually, there are several traders during importation.)
The opposition senator noted that historically, each importer is allotted around 10,000 to 20,000 metric tons of the product.
However, Hontiveros said the three firms received up to 20-fold of the allocation — 240,000 metric tons for Sucden Philippines Inc. and 100,000 metric tons each for Sucden Philippines Inc. and Edison Lee Marketing Corporation.
“Hindi lang sila binubukod. Sobra, sobra, sobra silang ini-spoil. Baka ma-impatso sila sa asukal,” she said.
(They are not just being picked. They are spoiled. They might get indigestion with sugar.)
Further, Hontiveros believes that Agriculture Undersecretary and Sugar Board chairperson Domingo Panganiban acted with “badges of bad faith” in relation to the sugar importation.
Panganiban was the one who issued a memorandum order, identifying the three importers as the recipients of the sugar allocations despite a lack of a sugar order.