Zubiri believes Rodriguez not involved in issuance of 'illegal' sugar importation order

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday said he believes Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez was not part of the plan to issue the "illegal" Sugar Order No. 4 which would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

"I absolutely do not believe that he is part of this plan of coming out with an illegal order to import sugar. Why? Because he was the one who took it to the President and told the President about this particular plan that they already signed an import order without the President's approval. Siya ang nagsumbong kay Presidente," Zubiri said in an interview with reporters.

He added that Rodriguez was even the one who is leading the raids in warehouses where the hoarded sugar were allegedly kept.

"So kung kasama siya dito, e bakit niya isusumbong kay Presidente? So I don't believe that ES is a part of it. As a matter of fact, siya ang nagli-lead ng raids. He was the one who asked us to help him and explain to him the sugar situation," he added.

During the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation into the sugar "fiasco" Tuesday, Rodriguez said that he requested the Sugar Regulatory Administration to draft a sugar order and to craft an importation plan.

He said they received a draft sugar order from Serafica and eventually they also received the recommendation to import 300,000 metric tons of sugar from Sebastian.

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros then refuted Malacanang's statement that Rodriguez was not aware of the sugar order.

"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 said

"Ibig sabihin po, alam ni Sec. Rodriguez na may umiikot na draft order...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.—AOL, GMA News