Zubiri wants Blue Ribbon investigation on sugar importation ‘fiasco’

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday called on the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the issuance by the Sugar Regulatory Administration of Sugar Order No. 4 which Malacañang has described as "illegal."

In a privilege speech, Zubiri also alleged hundreds of millions of pesos being paid in kickbacks for the importation of hundreds of thousands of tons of sugar.

“This recent fiasco has put a spotlight not only on the SRA's blatant disregard for the local sugar industry, but also on its bald-faced attempts to usurp authority," Zubiri said.

The SRA last week issued Sugar Order 4, which provided for the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar without the approval of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. — the chairman of Sugar Regulatory Board as concurrent secretary of agriculture.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Marcos had rejected the proposal to import 300,000 tons more of sugar. She said the importation order was illegal.

Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian who signed "for" Marcos in the questioned order has since resigned.

"Thus, I ask my colleagues in the Senate, particularly the Blue Ribbon Committee, to open an investigation and get to the bottom of this shameful incident, and see whether cases need to be filed against the persons involved," Zubiri said.

"Let us investigate this, and let us find ways to build a better, more responsive, and more inclusive SRA,” he added.

Zubiri said there was usurpation of authority and violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act "at the very least."

He also alleged kickbacks in the importation of sugar, citing industry sources.

“It can go as low as 50 pesos per bag to a high of 100 pesos per bag... Let me put it in proper context. Three hundred metric tons of sugar is six million bags. At 50 pesos, that is 300 million pesos. At 100 pesos, that is an income of 600 million pesos," Zubiri said.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Sebastian but has yet to receive any as of posting time.

He has said that he signed the importation order due to the diminishing supply of sugar.

"I signed the documents based on the data presented to me, based on data presented by the SRA (Sugar Regulatory Administration). There is a clear indication of the rapidly diminishing supply of sugar," Sebastian said.

"The current supply is projected to run out in August 2022 and end of crop year  2021-2022. I cannot stand watching Filipinos suffer from high local prices of sugar that are hurting Filipino consumers," he added.

Zubiri lauded the resignation of Sebastian and Atty. Roland Beltran, reiterating his call for the rest of the officials involved in Sugar Order No. 4 to vacate their posts. —NB, GMA News