Pinaiimbestigahan na ng Malacañang ang mga opisyal ng Department of Agriculture (DA) na sangkot sa kautusang umangkat ng daan-daang toneladang asukal.
Ito ay nang ihayag ni Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles sa isang pulong balitaan nitong Huwebes na iligal ang inilabas na Sugar Order No. 4 na nag-aatas na mag-import ng 300,000 metriko toneladang asukal.
Aniya, kabilang sa iimbestigahan si DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian na sinasabing isa sa pumirma sa isang board resolution hinggil sa usapin.
"This resolution is illegal. The chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Board is President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. As such chairman, he sets the date of any meetings and convening of the Sugar Regulatory Board and its agenda. No such meeting was authorized by the President nor such a resolution was likewise authorized," banggit ni Angeles.
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"An investigation is ongoing to determine whether any acts that would cause the President to lose trust and confidence in his officials can be found or if there is malice or negligence involved. In such a case, if such findings are made, then the only determination left will be how many heads will roll," aniya.
Pagdidiin ni Angeles, hindi aprubado ni Marcos ang pagpupulong ngSugar Regulatory Board kaugnay ng importasyon ng asukal.
"He did not approve the convening. You can only convene the board with the ascent, explicit ascent of the President, and he didn't make such an agreement," paglilinaw nito.
Binanggit din nito na hindi pinahihintulutan si Sebastian na pumirma ng kahalintulad na dokumento dahil wala itong basbas ng Pangulo.
"He was not authorized to sign such resolution 'cause the President did not authorize the importation. Importations are sensitive matter particularly with regard to agricultural importations. Sugar is one such importation which we take great care with. It is a balancing act," ani Angeles.
Nilinaw pa ni Angeles na nitong nakaraang Mayo, umangkat na ng asukal ang gobyerno upang matugunan ang pangangailangan sa merkado.
"Naniniwala rin ang Presidente sa due process. Tingnan natin ang dahilan kung bakit minadali nila ito, nag-convene sila nang walang kaalam-alam ang Presidente and bibigyan sila ng pagkakataon i-explain 'yung panig nila," dagdag pa ni Angeles.
