Palace: DA exec apologized, resigned over issue of ‘illegal’ sugar importation order

The Department of Agriculture undersecretary whom the Palace said signed the illegal importation order for 300,000 tons of sugar has resigned, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said on Friday night.

On Facebook Live, Cruz-Angeles said Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian in a letter dated August 11 resigned from his post as undersecretary for operations and chief of staff to the Secretary of Agriculture, a post President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also holds.

Cruz-Angeles said Sebastian apologized to the Chief Executive for having signed Sugar Order No. 4 without the expressed approval of Marcos, who as DA secretary, is also the chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board.

The press secretary said as early as Wednesday that Marcos had rejected proposals for the importation of 300,000 tons of sugar.

GMA News Online is trying to get Sebastian for comment and will post his reply as soon as it is available.

“I sincerely offer my apologies, Your Excellency, for my having approved Sugar Order No. 4 on your behalf, and through the authority you have vested upon me," Sebastian said in a copy of the letter he sent Marcos.

"It has become clear that the same was not in keeping with your administration's desired direction for the sugar industry. I take accountability and responsibility for its consequences," he added.

A copy of the letter was released to the media by the Office of the Press Secretary.

"Thus, I humbly offer to be relieved of my delegated authorities and the assignments and responsibilities in my capacity as Chief of Staff and Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture," Sebastian said.

Cruz-Angeles on Thursday described as “illegal” Sugar Order No. 4 issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration, which supposedly directed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

She said Marcos is the chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board, who is mandated to set the date of any meeting or convening of the board and its agenda.

"No such meeting was authorized by the President or such a resolution likewise, was not authorized," Cruz-Angeles said in a news briefing on Thursday.

"Usec Sebastian was not authorized to sign such a resolution because the President did not authorize the importation," she added.

Cruz-Angeles said the importation of agricultural products was "a balancing act" between protecting the country's industries and trying to keep the prices low.

She said that while there was no importation order, Marcos gave instructions for an importation plan.

Cruz-Angeles said Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez had no hand in the order for the importation of sugar.

“Ang lumalabas, si ES pa ang nag-issue ng importation order. Magkaiba po ‘yun. Importation plan po ay precursor 'yan bago magtalaga ang Sugar Regulatory Board ng importation order,” Cruz-Angeles said.

“Wala pong kinalaman si ES sa importation resolution ng SRB. Hindi po siya ang nag-utos ng pag-convene nito," she added.

Cruz-Angeles said it was Rodriguez which brought to Marcos' attention the board meeting and the resolution.

"Right there and then, gusto niya sana resolbahin ang isyu. Ang importation plan ay hindi importation order," Cruz-Angeles said.  —NB/KG, GMA News