Marcos Jr.: Sugar import fiasco a ‘procedural mistake’

MANILA, Philippines —  A “procedural mistake” is how President Marcos described the sugar importation mess in August last year, although reinstating the involved Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA) officers is still something to “talk about.”

Marcos gave this opinion when asked to comment on the results of a Palace investigation on the issuance of an unauthorized sugar order, which absolved former agriculture undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian and three other SRA officers of any wrongdoing.

“Because we are mindful of the decision. It was basically a mistake, a procedural mistake that happened. So we’ll proceed on that basis,” the President told reporters at a press conference in Beijing, China on Thursday.

To former SRA board member Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama, the dismissal of charges against him and co-respondents Sebastian, Hermenegildo Serafica and Roland Beltran is a vindication that proves their act of issuing Sugar Order No. 4 was done in good faith and with no ill intention.

In a 10-page decision signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Malacañang said the issuance of SO No. 4 in August last year was done in good faith absent of any showing that the respondents were aware of their lack of authority. – Gilbert Bayoran