ES Rodriguez arrives at Senate for Blue Ribbon sugar probe

Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez arrived at the Senate Tuesday morning after the Blue Ribbon committee voted to subpoena him to attend the hearing on the sugar importation controversy.

In a Twitter post of Blue Ribbon committee chairman Francis Tolentino, Rodriguez was seen getting off his vehicle and entering the Senate building in Pasay City.

AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA, ES VIC ARRIVED AT THE SENATE BRC HEARING

Isang oras matapos maglabas ng subpoena ang Senate Blue Ribbon Committee kay Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, dumalo sa senado si ES Rodriguez upang humabol sa pagdinig sa isyu ng pag-angkat ng asukal. pic.twitter.com/SEDXAhRZQY

— Francis Tolentino (@SenTolentino) September 6, 2022

 Earlier in the day, the committee voted to issue a subpoena against Rodriguez for failure to attend the hearings.

Rodriguez attended the first hearing but senators were not able to ask him many questions as he had to leave early for a Cabinet meeting. He skipped the second hearing also due to a Cabinet meeting.

During the third hearing, Tolentino said Rodriguez sent a letter dated August 30 to excuse himself from the probe, citing his preparations for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s state visits to Indonesia and Singapore this week.

In a separate letter dated September 6, Rodriguez reiterated that he would not be able to attend the hearing “per instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.”

He, however, said that he was “willing to answer written inquiries” regarding the unauthorized issuance of Sugar Order No. 4.

Apology

During Tuesday's hearing, Rodriguez apologized to the members of the Blue Ribbon committee, saying he had no intention of disrespecting the Senate.

"I would like to sincerely apologize if we have to resort to the issuance of a subpoena to compel my presence today. I have no intention whatsoever to disrespect the honorable members of the Senate, and the Senate as an institution," he said.

Rodriguez said that after informing Marcos about the subpoena, the President ordered him to attend.

"That is why immediately, when I learned that a subpoena was issued, I don't want to, but I have to inform His Excellency, even if he is on his state visit, and immediately he asked me to forthwith, see the Senate President and immediately be present in today's Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, your honors," he said. 

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III asked Rodriguez about his unresponsiveness to queries from resigned Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian regarding Sugar Order No. 4. 

"Actually parang 'yan po ang naging ugat ng controversy, is 'yung hindi pag-communicate, 'yan ang nakita ko (That seemed to be the root of the controversy, the miscommunication). Why do you purposely not respond, Mr. ES? You could have responded 'We have not yet made a decision on that,'" Pimentel said.

In response, Rodriguez said that there were still pending matters for decision by Marcos, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

Rodriguez added that resigned SRA chief Hermenegildo Serafica was "conscious" that he did not have blanket authority to decide on sugar importation.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano asked whether resigned Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian was already fired or not, after signing the importation order without Marcos' approval.  

Rodriguez said Sebastian's letter stated that the senior DA official only requested to be "relieved" of his duties. 

Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Richard Palpalatoc said Sebastian can be "fired for cause" after due process "as soon as possible." 

"Mr. ES, may I just give unsolicited advice. Speed matters in issues like this. Gusto mong mawala ang mga Marites na nagkakalat na gusto ng Presidente ng sugar importation? Gusto niyong mawala ang mga Marites na nagsasabing may pumuprotekta kay Usec. Sebastian? Be decisive and make a decision," Cayetano said. —with Jamil Santos/AOL/VBL, GMA News