advanced Happy Fiesta Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dyan Agda; lone district Rep. Maria Fe Abunda
…supports Buwan ng Wika
Mabuhay 17th Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
riders…be licensed pest control engineer even without baccalaureate degree in tertiary school…a promising career…call or text 09916444376 for details…
Klinpix Janitorial and Pest Control Services is hiring riders with units of college or equivalent in non-formal training,pretty account executives (college graduates), drivers, graphic artist 09438144995, 099164443
ES is aware of draft sugar importation order- Hontiveros
By Nidz Godino
“Sabi ni Sec. Trixie Angeles, wala daw alam si ES sa Sugar Order No. 4…ang sabi pa niya, nung nalaman daw ni ES yung SO No. 4, pinagbigay alam nila sa Pangulo at diumano nagalit ang pangulo,” Senator Risa Hontiveros contended that Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez was aware of drafting of controversial Sugar Order No. 4, which would’ve allowed importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
During Senate blue ribbon committee’s first hearing on alleged unauthorized issuance of SO 4, the opposition lawmaker refuted Malacanang’s statement that importation order was illegal as it was issued beyond authority of entity that issued it.
Hontiveros cited memorandum dated July 15, 2022 that authorized then-Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, now resigned, to sit as ex-officio member of all duly constituted committees and bodies where Department of Agriculture secretary is a member.
At a hearing at the House of Representatives Sebastian said he signed SO 4 based on authority given to him by Rodriguez through July 15 memorandum.
Although Hontiveros noted Sebastian’s statement that he may have misread intent of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who sits as DA secretary, she asked why SO4 was still approved and why did Rodriguez not immediately bring this to the attention of the President.
She said meeting was even held on August 4 or the same time when intent to import 300,000 metric tons of sugar was already clear.
Hontiveros then raised some news reports and citizen vlogs that she said contradict Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles’ statements on Rodriguez’s knowledge on the importation order.
“As early as August 5, 2022, draft of Sugar Order No. 4 was already submitted to former SRA administrator Leo Sebastian…in the afternoon of August 5, the DA OSec already wrote to ES at ito yung inamin ni ES kanina and sent him said draft as well as Memorandum for the President, ibig sabihin po, alam ni Sec. Rodriguez na may umiikot na draft order…an order that received support from stakeholders of the sugar industry…did he mention this at all to his principal…di ba dapat ang ES prinoprotektahan ang pangulo…di ba dapat ang ES gatekeeper?”
She stressed.
Rodriguez faced Senate panel and narrated what transpired before alleged unauthorized approval of SO 4. He reiterated order was signed without President Marcos’ knowledge.
He also said that Marcos had directed him to ensure that SO 4 “will not come out and it is of no force and effect.”
Rodriguez also mentioned their coordination with businessmen and stakeholders to bring down prices of sugar to P70 per kilo.
“There is nothing more important than food security, its availability to the most ordinary Filipino, and ensure food price stability to achieve our goal na walang Pilipinong nagugutom,” he said.
Rodriguez had to leave hearing early to attend Cabinet meeting and was no longer present when Hontiveros spoke.
At Palace presser, Angeles would wait for probe to finish before making comments on testimonies being said before lawmakers.
“There are also other questions pertaining to supposedly testimonies being given during the course of legislative investigation, we will not comment on those as well because it is in the hands of the committee or legislature which is conducting investigation…we wait for it to complete the investigation,” she said.
Hontiveros also questioned the narrative that President Marcos was deceived regarding issuance of SO 4.
“Bakit may packaging na niloloko ang Pangulo…bakit pinapalabas na may paglilinlang…why suggest na first time mo nadinig na may Sugar Order No. 4, when you were informed and kept in the loop as early as August 5?” she asked.
Hontiveros also pointed out Rodriguez’s mention of 100,000 metric tons standby stocks requested by the Sugar Regulatory Administration to be imported by the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC).
“What did ES think of 100,000 MT standby stocks requested by SRA to be imported by PITC…they knew this was proposal…was this acted upon…was this to counter hoarders?” she asked.
The opposition senator then reiterated the need to fix leadership in the DA.
“I hope this is not a portent of things to come maglalabas ng order, ia-atras ang order, idi-deny na sangkot sa order…nobody is helped by disorganized leadership not industry, not traders, not producers, and certainly not consumers, this was not only about one man misinterpreting intent and acting outside powers…ultimately, this is fallout of messy, haphazard bureaucracy…wag na natin iminimize ang damage na nagawa nito, ” Hontiveros added.
After her manifestation, Hontiveros moved to recall Rodriguez to attend Senate blue ribbon investigation to answer questions on the issuance of SO 4. This was approved by the committee.
ISKUP! 