Incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. made an excellent decision in heading the Department of Agriculture (DA) which has been embroiled in so much corruption over the past years, outgoing Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Tuesday.
“I think it’s an excellent decision. It is one of the issues that we talked about when we met. Unfortunately, with due respect, the DA has been embroiled in so much corruption especially in the issue of smuggling, technical smuggling,” Sotto told reporters in an interview.
“And then there is a bad influence between the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the DA. As I’ve said it’s an excellent decision of the (incoming) President,” the Senate leader added.
Sotto also said he has already shared to Marcos Jr. the committee report of the Senate Committee of the Whole’s investigation into the rampant agricultural smuggling in the Philippines.
According to Sotto, the Senate Bills and Index has already received the copy of the committee report.
Nevertheless, he said, he believes the incoming president already knows what’s going in the DA.
“Lock, stock and barrel. I’m expecting the incoming president to scrutinize everything. He knows what’s going on. As a matter of fact, I am not sure if I am at liberty to say so, but I know for a fact that he already has a list of those involved in the smuggling,” he said.
Asked if Marcos Jr. has committed to act on the list of persons involved in agricultural smuggling that is included in the Senate panel’s report, Sotto said he believes the President will once he formally assumes his post.
“He did not need to commit to me anything like that, but I sensed during our conversation that he was bothered about the corruption that is going on in the DA and Customs,” he said.
“When we were talking about it, he was shaking his head...I know, he sensed it. His facial expression, and the way he was shaking his head. He was disgusted with what he was hearing,” he added.
“(So) to me, I was both surprised—but pleasantly surprised—and happy in his decision to be the acting Secretary of the Agriculture (department),” he said.