Rodriguez aware of draft sugar importation order, Hontiveros says

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday contended that Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez was aware of the drafting of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4, which would've allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

During the Senate blue ribbon committee's first hearing on the alleged unauthorized issuance of SO 4, the opposition lawmaker refuted Malacanang's statement that the importation order was illegal as it was issued beyond the authority of the entity that issued it.

Hontiveros cited the 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 the Department of Agriculture secretary is a member.

At a hearing at the House of Representatives on Monday, Sebastian said he signed SO 4 based on the authority given to him by Rodriguez through the July 15 memorandum.

Although Hontiveros noted Sebastian's statement that he may have misread the 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 a meeting was even held on August 4 or the same time when the 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.

"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," Hontiveros said.

"As early as August 5, 2022, a draft of the 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 the ES at ito yung inamin ni ES kanina and sent him the said draft as well as a Memorandum for the President," she added.

"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?"

Rodriguez

Rodriguez faced the Senate panel and narrated what transpired before the alleged unauthorized approval of SO 4. He reiterated that the order was signed without 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 the 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 the hearing early to attend a Cabinet meeting and was no longer present when Hontiveros spoke.

GMA News Online has reached out to Rodriguez and Cruz-Angeles for their respective comments, but Rodriguez has yet to respond as of posting time.

At a Palace presser, Cruz-Angeles said they would wait for the probe to finish before making comments on the testimonies being said before the lawmakers.

"There are also other questions pertaining to supposedly the testimonies that are being given during the course of the legislative investigation, we will not comment on those as well because it is in the hands of the committee or the legislature which is conducting the investigation. We wait for it to complete the investigation," she said.

Marcos deceived?

Hontiveros also questioned the narrative that Marcos was deceived regarding the 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 the 100,000 metric tons standby stocks requested by the Sugar Regulatory Administration to be imported by the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC).

"What did the ES think of the 100,000 MT standby stocks requested by the SRA to be imported by PITC? They knew this was a proposal. Was this acted upon? Was this to counter the hoarders?" she asked.

The opposition senator then reiterated the need to fix the 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 the traders, not the producers, and certainly not the consumers," she said.

"This was not only about one man misinterpreting intent and acting outside powers. Ultimately, this is the fallout of a messy, haphazard bureaucracy. Wag na natin iminimize ang damage na nagawa nito," Hontiveros added.

After her manifestation, Hontiveros moved to recall Rodriguez to attend the Senate blue ribbon investigation to answer the questions on the issuance of SO 4. This was approved by the committee. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News