One of the leaders of the sugar producers groups said Tuesday they "were made to believe" that there was a need to import sugar as reportedly instructed by acting Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED), said they signed a written recommendation—a basis being cited by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) in crafting the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 (SO No. 4)—because Marcos Jr. supposedly "ordered the importation of 300 metric tons of sugar because it was a national emergency."
"So we signed because who are we to question the wisdom of the president," he said.
Lamata's statement came after former SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica said at least five sugar federations were consulted and agreed to the recommendation to import sugar that was why he came up with SO No. 4, which greenlighted the importation of 300 MTs of sugar.
On the other hand, Senate President Migz Zubiri also asked during the hearing why Serafica crafted the order with "secrecy" after the latter admitted crafting the order on his own without the knowledge of the deputy administrator, who is Guillermo Tejida.
"It was a directive to craft an importation plan, we did not want to let anybody know until such time it will reach the office of the President," Serafica said.
Zubiri also questioned "the haste" in doing so as it only took around four days before the SRA and the DA, through former Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, came up with an unauthorized and signed importation order.
"Apat na araw (It took four days) for such an important document for importation. Don't you think it's highly irregular? It is not common," the Senate President asked.