Hontiveros: Palace must shatter silence on new sugar fiasco

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday that Malacañang should break its silence on the “government-sponsored” sugar smuggling plaguing the country.

Hontiveros has previously raised concerns about Sugar Order (SO) No. 6, allegedly used to justify illegally importing 440,000 metric tons of sugar.

READ: Hontiveros uncovers alleged government-sponsored sugar smuggling

“Napakahirap na basahin ang katahimikan. Mas madali sanang basahin kapag nagsalita. So, I think it’s well past the time na manahimik lamang ang Palasyo lalo na’t idinadawit ang pangalan ng highest office at pangalan ng highest official sa pagdadahilan at pag-justify nitong sugar import fiasco 2.0,” she said in a press conference.

(It’s tricky to interpret silence. It would be easier to read into it if they spoke up. So, I think it’s well past the time for the Palace to just keep quiet, especially since they’re implicating the highest office and the highest official in reasoning out and justifying the sugar import fiasco 2.0.)

Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban has since claimed that the sugar importation secured the go-ahead of President and concurrent DA chief President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. through a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

READ: ‘Let it be’: Agri exec plays down sugar smuggling claim

This, Hontiveros noted, should be enough reason for Malacañang to address the issue and hold those responsible for the sugar import mess to account.

“Hindi masama at hindi premature na magsalita si Executive Secretary Bersamin dito, not just to clear the name of his office, the name of the Office of the President o silang dalawa bilang mga indibidwal pero para iwasto iyong halatang mali-maling ginagawa ng DA at iyong pag-usurp niya ng mandato ng Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA),” she pointed out.

(It won’t be unwelcome and premature for Executive Secretary Bersamin to speak up about it, not just to clear the name of his office, the name of the Office of the President, or both their names as individuals, but also to correct the obviously wrong actions of the DA and its usurpation of the mandate of the SRA.)

The minority legislator said it remains a question to her that Panganiban has still not been placed under preventive suspension or that the Office of the Executive Secretary has not yet annulled the memorandum issued by Panganiban instructing the SRA to clear the release of the sugar shipment.

READ: DA memo is cartel ‘smoking gun’ – Hontiveros

While Hontiveros raised doubts about Malacañang’s seeming inaction on the sugar fiasco, she said the Senate is already preparing to investigate the matter.

Hontiveros had earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 497, calling on the chamber’s blue ribbon panel to investigate SO 6.

READ: Senate blue ribbon to investigate sugar imports again

But she pressed for Malacañang to also move to address the issue, noting that Marcos is “principally accountable” as both agriculture secretary and Chief Executive.

“Ngayon pa lang, hindi kailangan hintayin ng executive iyong aksyon ng Senado. Ang dami nang na-deliver na mga isyu at tanong sa doorstep nila na pwede at dapat nilang buksan, i-unwrap at sagutin para sa kalinawan ng publiko,” she said.

(At this point, the executive should not wait for the Senate’s action. There have been many issues and questions delivered to their doorstep, which they should open, unwrap and answer to give clarity to the public.)

Hontiveros then went on: “Nakataya sila sa tamang pagsagot sa mga tanong na ito, sa tamang pagtukoy ng mga responsable sa tangkang cartelization na ito at sa tamang pagparusa para hindi na uulitin ang ganitong klaseng gawain.”

(They are on the line here and should adequately answer these questions, properly pin down those responsible for the attempted cartelization, and appropriately penalize them to avoid this from happening again.)

The Senate blue ribbon committee, according to Hontiveros, has not yet arranged a date for the start of its probe on the new sugar fiasco, but she expressed trust that the panel’s chairman, Sen. Francis Tolentino, is preparing to call for the investigation.

This would be the second investigation of the committee on sugar importation under the administration of Marcos, who, aside from sitting as DA chief, also holds the position of SRA chairperson.

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