Marcos on plans for cleared Sebastian: He should hear them first

BEIJING—President Ferdinand "Bong" Marcos Jr. won't say what his plans are for resigned Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian adding that he'd rather first discuss it with the former Department of Agriculture official.

Marcos so remarked when asked about the administration's plans for Sebastian after Malacanang cleared the official and three Sugar Regulatory Administration officials of any liability in connection with a disavowed sugar importation order.

"Well, whatever plans we have for Undersecretary Sebastian, I think he should hear them first, not over the news. So pag-uusapan namin. Because we are mindful of the decision," Marcos told reporters who covered his state visit here.

"It was basically a mistake, a procedural mistake that happened. So we’ll proceed on that basis," he added.

In a 10-page decision dated December 29, 2022, the Office of the President said the following have also been absolved of liabilities since the issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 was "done in good faith":

• former SRA administrator Hermenegildo Serafica,
• former SRA board member Roland Beltran, and
• former SRA board member Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama, Jr.

"From the totality of the evidence, this Office finds that the issuance of SO No. 4 was done in good faith absent any showing that the respondents were aware of their lack of authority," the decision read.

"Here, respondents thought they were authorized because of miscommunication," it added.

The four individuals were charged with grave misconduct, gross dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in connection with SO 4, which should have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar without Marcos' approval.

Marcos also sits as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

According to the OP, the miscommunication stemmed from the July 15, 2022 memorandum of former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez that allowed Sebastian to sit as ex-officio chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board.

The same July 15, 2022 memorandum also allowed Sebastian to sign contracts and other documents necessary to carry out department objectives, policies, functions, plans, programs, and projects, for the efficient and effective operations of the DA.—NB, GMA Integrated News