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Senate panel ends probe into sugar importation mess, report out Thursday: chair

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Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Senate Blue Ribbon panel chair Sen. Francis Tolentino. Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB handout" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/09/06/20220906-rodriguez-tolentino.jpg"/><figcaption>Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Senate Blue Ribbon panel chair Sen. Francis Tolentino. <em>Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will release its findings on the sugar importation controversy on Thursday, the panel&#x27;s chairperson told reporters Tuesday following the conclusion of its third hearing into the matter.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/06/22/rodriguez-shows-up-at-senate-after-panel-votes-to-subpoena-him">ES Rodriguez shows up at Senate hours after Blue Ribbon votes to subpoena him</a></li></ul><p>&quot;There is no more hearing on Thursday,&quot; Sen. Francis Tolentino said in a press conference.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/08/18/22/sugar-importation-policy-hampering-development-of-sugarcane-industry-senator">Sugar importation policy hampering development of sugarcane industry: senator</a></li></ul><p>&quot;God willing by Thursday we will have the committee report. The day after tomorrow,&quot; Tolentino added.</p><p>Asked if they would recommend filing of charges against individuals allegedly involved, Tolentino said &quot;definitely, charges will be filed.&quot;</p><p>Tolentino&#x27;s panel held 3 hearings seeking clarity into the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 allowing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar. The order was invalidated and was called &quot;illegal&quot; by Malacañang. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/01/22/rodriguez-to-skip-senate-probe-on-sugar-order-due-to-busy-sched">Rodriguez to skip Senate probe on sugar order due to busy sched</a></li></ul><p>During the hearings, former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo Serafica and Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian both claimed receiving &quot;signals&quot; from Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that importation was a go.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/classified-odd/08/30/22/marcos-aware-of-sras-intention-to-import-sugar-official">Marcos &#x27;aware&#x27; of SRA&#x27;s intention to import sugar: official</a></li></ul><p>Rodriguez denied the claim.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/30/22/da-exec-cites-marcos-signals-in-approving-sugar-import">Ex-official, DA exec cite supposed &#x27;signals&#x27; from Marcos in approving sugar import</a></li></ul><p>Serafica and Sebastian, 2 of the signatories of the SO No. 4, resigned from their posts after the controversy. Sebastian&#x27;s resignation, meanwhile, is still under Palace&#x27;s consideration.</p><p>RELATED VIDEO:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-oEzr9-EDlQ?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Asked if they would recommend filing of charges against individuals allegedly involved, Sen. Francis Tolentino said 'definitely.'

Senate panel ends probe into sugar importation mess, report out Thursday: chair

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Senate panel ends probe into sugar importation mess, report out Thursday: chair

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 06, 2022 05:13 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

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sugar importation

Hermenegildo Serafica

Leocadio Sebastian

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