Senator Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB)

Senator Risa Hontiveros is disappointed with Malacañang's appointment of Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban as Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) officer in charge (OIC).

‘’Panganiban arrogated unto himself the powers of Sugar Regulatory Administration, and now, instead of being punished, he is being rewarded by being appointed as its OIC?" she asked.

‘’For Malacañang and Panganiban, it appears that crime really does pay - it even rewards,’’ she pointed out.

Hontiveros had asked the Senate to investigate the recent importation by Panganiban of 440,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar.

The importation by three favored traders of the sugar would result to an estimated P14-billion profit, she said,

Senator Francis ‘’Tol" Tolentino said his Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would conduct the probe on Hontiveros’ resolution regarding the sugar importation authorized by Panganiban on Tuesday morning.

In any other government, Panganiban would already be suspended and the subject of multiple criminal and administrative investigations for his issuances which openly violate existing laws and enable the formation of a government sponsored sugar cartel in the country, Hontiveros pointed out.

"Instead of demotions or criminal or administrative charges, Panganiban is being provided by Malacanang with a plum new post at the [SRA].
This is in stark contrast to their treatment of another DA official who resigned his post after being tagged in the controversial Sugar Order No. 4," she said.

‘'Panganiban’s appointment is the epitome of impunity. What sort of message do we hope to send here to our fellow government employees, to our farmers, to our consumers  by rewarding corruption instead of punishing it?" she asked.

‘’If left unchecked, large-scale smuggling and outright corruption in the selection of importers will be just the beginning. I fear that the SRA, under Panganiban, will continue to deny requests by industries to procure their own sugar supplies and justify the high prices of sugar being forced on consumers and businesses alike," she said.

Hontiveros further said: "I am also wary about Panganiban using his new position to cover his own tracks and issue gag orders, as he has done in the past, to derail investigations into his activities and the so-called 'Sugar Fiasco 2.0'."

‘’Sa huli, walang magandang kahahantungan ang appointment na ito (In the end, the result is not good). Talo na naman ang interes at ang bulsa ng taumbayan (The interest and pockets of Filipinos will lose).’’