Sotto, Lacson hit DA chief Dar for skipping Senate probe on agri smuggling thrice in a row

At least two senators on Tuesday called out Agriculture Secretary William Dar for skipping the Senate investigation into the alleged proliferation of smuggled vegetables in the Philippine market for the third time.

"The committee invited Secretary Dar thrice already to this hearing. However, I cannot see him here now and this committee did not receive any explanation from the Agriculture secretary of his absence, of why he is absent. May I know from any representative of the [Department of Agriculture] why he is not present today for the third time?" said Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who presided over the committee of the whole hearing.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste Jr., who was physically present during the hearing, explained that Dar has to attend to other official functions which were scheduled prior to the committee investigation.

According to Laciste, Dar was also absent in the last hearing because he attended a management committee meeting.

"Same thing, sir, mayroon din siyang sir other prior [commitments] ano sir, kaya indisposed din sir siya," Lacsite told the panel.

Senator Panfilo Lacson backed Sotto's appeal, saying Dar should be present at the hearing so they could raise other issues to the Agriculture chief such as the lack of funding for the University of the Philippines National Institute of Molecular Biology which could produce biofertilizers for the local farmers, the farming equipment which were not given to the farmers, and the status of the utilization of around P18 billion budget under the DA, among others.

"These are long term and short term na needs na kung ia-address sana ni Secretary Dar...kung andito sana siya at least naibigay namin sa kanya, maaksyunan kasi hirap na hirap na ang inyong magsasaka," Lacson said.

"Samahan na rin ng ano, in the course of our campaign, madalas na kausap namin mga farmers and [these are] common problems that they are confronted with na pinapaabot sa amin. That's why it is very important for government officials like Secretary Dar to attend this hearing not just to confront or address issues being raised against him but other issues that you know could make him act doon sa mga hindi niya nararating, 'di niya alam, natiyempo lang na naririnig namin ito and we want to bring this to his attention. The problem is he is not even around," he added.

Lacson seconded the appeal of Sotto for Dar to give them a date so the committee could adjust to his schedule.

"I support the plea of the Senate president. Kailan siya available, kami na lang po pupunta sa bahay niya at doon kami mag-hearing para lang nandiyan siya kung 'di siya makapunta dito sa Senate. Kindly inform us 'yung date na available s'ya. The committee is even willing to adjust to his schedule," the senator said.

"He really needs to be here. You cannot keep quiet all the time, Sec. Dar," he added.

Dar's explanation

At the latter part of the hearing, Sotto received a letter which was supposedly from Dar, explaining his absence at the hearing.

In his letter, Dar said he will be in Benguet to preside over a meeting with Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Board and to attend other official engagements.

"I just received a copy e bigla itong dumating, kopya ng sulat galing kay Secretary Dar hindi raw siya makakaattend ngayon dahil, the letter is dated April 7 pero the committee has not received anything until today...at tiyaka mukhang minadali," Sotto noted.

The Senate chief said the letter looks like it was made in haste as there were grammatical errors.

"Narinig mo ba yon? 'I will in Benguet' to preside baka 'I will be in Benguet' siguro ang ibig niyang sabihin. Mahirap talaga kapag minamadali ang sulat," Sotto quipped.

The Senate Committee of the Whole is investigating the proliferation of smuggled agricultural products in the Philippine market.

The panel is also looking into the issues in the Bureau of Customs that are related to the smuggling of crops. — RSJ, GMA News