Ex-SRA execs say Marcos mentioned 600K MT sugar importation; Rodriguez denies

Resigned Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo Serafica on Tuesday told the Senate blue ribbon committee that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had mentioned that 600,000 metric tons of sugar might need to be imported in the country, which Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez refuted.

During the third hearing on the sugar fiasco, Serafica said that in a supposed August 4 hybrid meeting, he told Marcos that the 600,000 metric tons of sugar—which was twice of the 300,000 metric tons of sugar involved in the controversial Sugar Order No. 4.—“might be too much” as the milling season was about to open then.

“Actually in that online meeting with the President, former board member Valderrama was also in that online meeting, and the President mentioned about a volume of 600,000 metric tons and I said, ‘Mr. President, that maybe too much because starting August 1, First Farmers (Holding Corporation) have already accepted canes delivery from farmers and any time this week they will start milling,’” he said.

Former SRA board member Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr. affirmed Serafica’s claim that there was an August 4 meeting, and that Marcos mentioned the 600,000 metric tons of sugar.

“Yes, this was discussed in our Zoom meeting together with the President and he mentioned the 600,000 but former administrator Serafica said that it might be too much because the milling season is about to open,” Valderrama said.

This was, however, denied by Rodriguez, saying that there was no truth that Marcos pitched for such volume of sugar.

“Wala hong binabanggit na amount in terms of quantity si kagalang-galang na Pangulo Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. pagdating doon sa metric tons na kailangang i-angkat. Kaya po tayo naipit doon sa import plan pa lamang dahil hindi nga po kami kumbinsi sa 300,000 metric tons,” he said.

“Wala hong katotohanan na nanggaling kay Pangulong Marcos ‘yung 600,000 metric tons.”

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri backed Rodriguez, saying that he does not believe that Marcos would ask for importation of such an amount.

“Ayaw na nga ng Presidente ng 300,000 metric tons, 600,000 pa? I don’t believe the President had said that. Impossible. The President will not come up with a figure on the top of his mind,” Zubiri said.

“You better clarify, Mr. Serafica. You are very close to being cited for contempt,” he added.

In response, Serafica insisted that was what he heard.

“‘Yung 600,000 po, Mr. Chair, hindi po ‘yan galing sa’kin. ‘Yung binanggit ni Presidente na 600,000, sabi ko po, Mr. President, that might be too much," he said.

He also said he was physically present in the Office of the Executive Secretary, but Marcos and Valderrama were present virtually through Zoom.

Rodriguez said he will check the veracity of Sarafica's claim when Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III asked him about it.

"May inaccuracy siguro sa pagka-state niya (Serafica) pero may August 4 meeting, nabanggit niya online... pero hybrid pala ang ibig niyang sabihin. Physical po kayo (Rodriguez), meron bang others present online? Tandaan po natin, Mr. Valderrama confirms such a meeting," Pimentel said.

(There might be inaccuracies in his statement but there was indeed an August 4 meeting. He mentioned online, but what he meant to say was hybrid meeting. You attended physically, were others present online?)

"That is what I will have to check, your honor so that we will be precise," Rodriguez answered.

Pimentel said Marcos supposedly mentioning 600,000 metric tons of sugar as part of the brainstorming is "not a crime."

He, however, admonished SRA for not being transparent on their processes.

"SRA, you are not transparent enough. Opaque kayo, opaque. Hindi kayo naiintindihan, gusto naming maintindihan ang inyong mga proseso (You are being opaque. You are hard to understand, we want to understand your processes) so try your best to be transparent," Pimentel said.

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

Sugar is in the spotlight following the controversial issuance of SO 4, which was later deemed “illegal” by Malacañang as it was signed without the knowledge and expressed approval of Marcos, who currently heads the Department of Agriculture.—with Jamil Santos/AOL, GMA News