(UPDATE) AGRICULTURE Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban was charged before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday in connection with the order to import 440,000 metric tons of refined sugar last February. Photo By Ismael De JuanThe complainants alleged that Panganiban "acted under the pretense of official position when he used his position as the senior undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to direct three importers to import sugar without the necessary Sugar Order." They said that in issuing the order, he usurped the function of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board. Based on the complaint, the SRA on February 15 issued Sugar Order 6 authorizing three sugar importing firms, including All Asian Countertrade Inc., to bring in the shipment of refined sugar. Testifying during a Senate hearing on the sugar importation last month, Panganiban said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had told him to hasten the importation of the commodity because the inflation rate could push sugar prices higher.

Source: Manila Times June 06, 2023 01:45 UTC