Lawmaker slams ‘government-sponsored smuggling’ of sugar

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros suspects another fiasco in the alleged importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar, and is seeking a Senate inquiry into the alleged arrival of 260 shipping containers of sugar in the country last week ahead of the issuance of Sugar Order No. 6.

“Seven months since the sugar import fiasco was first exposed, do we have another fiasco here? Who are the masterminds again responsible? What – or who – were the reasons why the Usec. was compelled to make such ‘hasty decisions?’” Hontiveros asked, apparently referring to Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.

“How can talking about tons of sugar – 450,000 metric tons – leave such a bitter taste in our mouths?” she said.

“Imagine: three companies alone – which were handpicked – were given the go-signal to import all of the sugar supply needed by the entire country. Isn’t this highly questionable? Isn’t this how cartels are formed? How can this be anything but “government-sponsored smuggling?” the senator added.

Hontiveros said the people will not be convinced by the excuses and dizzying explanations.

“First: 450,000 metric tons of sugar – the irregular shipment of that size is most likely economic sabotage. That is large-scale agricultural smuggling. Our laws, specifically the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act or RA 10845, penalizes as such the entry of sugar – valued not below P1 million – into the country without valid permits,” she said.

“Second: The Usec. also admitted that the basis for their actions was not a sugar order from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), but only a memo from the Office of the Executive Secretary. According to the SRA charter (EO No. 18, Series of 1986), only the SRA – and not Panganiban on his own – has the authority to issue permits and licenses like the sugar order allowing the import of sugar,” she said.

Hontiveros remarked that the valid importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar – one which did not pass through any cartel – can help a lot in bringing down the price of sugar to P60 per kilo.

Three planters’ federations – National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers and the Philippine Sugar Millers Association – have called on Congress to conduct a full-blown investigation over recent reports of alleged sugar smuggling.

In response, the Bureau of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service has reportedly asked the District Collector of the Port of Batangas to justify the release of the sugar by submitting copies of import clearances issued to the importer by the SRA. – Gilbert Bayoran