AGRICULTURE Undersecreatary Leocadio Sebastian of the has resigned from his post following his role in the unauthorized signing of a sugar importation order, Malacañang announced Friday night.
Sebastian submitted his resignation letter dated August 11, admitting that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not give his authorization on the issuance of the order, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said.
“Nagbigay po ng letter of resignation si Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian (Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian submitted his resignation),” she said in a Facebook live.
“Inaamin niya na nag-convene siya ng Sugar Regulatory Board at pumirma siya… Inaamin niyang walang pahintulot ito ng Pangulo (He admitted that he convened the Sugar Regulatory Board and he signed the resolution… He admitted that it was not aauthorized by the President),” Cruz-Angeles added.
Cruz-Angeles maintained that the meeting held for the issuance of the unauthorized resolution was “illegal” because it was not convened by Marcos, who concurrently chairs the Sugar Regulatory Board.
During the “Laging Handa” public briefing aired on state-run People’s Television Network Friday, Cruz-Angeles said “heads will roll” if there are sufficient findings against those involved in the unauthorized signing of a resolution that supposedly approved the importation of 300,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar.
Cruz-Angeles on Wednesday announced that Marcos rejected the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) proposal to import 300,000 MT of sugar amid the high price of sugar in the market.
Sebastian apologized to Marcos and assumed responsibility for the illegal issuance of the resolution.
“I sincerely offer my apologies, Your Excellency, for my having approved Sugar Order no. 4 on your behalf, and through the authority you had vested upon me. It has become clear that the same was not in keeping with your administration’s desired direction for the sugar industry. I take accountability and responsibility for its consequences,” he said.
