Several teams on Monday filed a graft grievance in opposition to Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban earlier than the Office of the Ombudsman over the February importation of 440,000 metric tons of sugar.
In a 16-page grievance affidavit, the complainants requested the Ombudsman to indict Panganiban for Usurpation of Official Functions or Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, in addition to violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“The indisputable fact is that there was no Sugar Order establishing a sugar importation program between the period of 20 October 2022 and 14 February 2023 or prior to the issuance of S06,” the complainants mentioned.
“This means that there was no Sugar Order to warrant the importation of… sugar that arrived in the Batangas Port on 9 February, making the imported sugar a smuggled agricultural product,” they added.
The complainants have been the National Congress of Unions within the Sugar Industry of the Philippines – Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Council and the Alternatiba ng Masa party-list.
Panganiban, the only respondent, beforehand mentioned {that a} sugar order was not crucial earlier than an importation could be made.
GMA News Online has sought remark from Panganiban however has but to obtain a reply as of posting time.
The complainants argued that whereas Panganiban was a senior undersecretary, he’s not a member of the Sugar Regulatory Administration Board.
“Which means that he has no power to perform any act relating to the management, production, regulation, and, let alone, the importation of sugar,” the complainants mentioned. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
