The House Committees on Good Government and Public Accountability and on Agriculture will conduct their second joint briefing on the botched importation of 300,000 metric tons (MTs) of sugar on Monday, Aug. 22.
Key individuals have been invited to attend the briefing as resource persons with the House members, who are expected to immediately push for a full-blown inquiry on the matter once the rules permit them to do so.
The original plan to hold the second briefing on Thursday, Aug. 18 was deferred to Monday, Aug. 22, to give way to the seven-day publication requirement for the rules of the good government panel to be considered effective. The seventh day will fall on Aug. 22.
San Jose del Monte City lone district Rep. Florida "Rida" Robes said the joint panel has invited former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Herminigildo Serafica, former Sugar Regulatory Board (SRB) member Roland Beltran, and former Department of Agriculture (DA) Leocadio Sebastian to the briefing.
All three officials resigned on the heels of signing of the importation order for the 300,000 MTs of sugar, which Malacañang later branded as unauthorized.
Former DA Secretary William Dar will also be summoned to shed light on the sugar mess, Robes said.
The lady solon said the joint House proceedings on the sugar importation issue is without prejudice to the recent resignations of the three officials.
Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga chairs the agriculture panel.
The first House briefing on the issue was carried out on Aug. 15.