Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Francis Tolentino and Senator Risa Hontiveros got into a heated exchange on Tuesday after the opposition lawmaker asserted good faith on the actions of agriculture and Sugar Regulatory Administration officials involved in the issuance of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4.
The Senate blue ribbon committee has recommended administrative and criminal charges against an Agriculture official and three former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) officials over the controversial Sugar Order No. 4.
Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez on Tuesday failed to appear again before the Senate blue ribbon committee's hearing into the sugar importation controversy, which prompted Senator Risa Hontiveros to move to subpoena him — a motion that was approved by the panel in an executive session.
Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez on Tuesday skipped the Senate blue ribbon committee's second hearing into the sugar importation controversy due to a Cabinet meeting in Malacañang.
Senators on Monday said it is too early to clear Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez of any liability over the drafting of Sugar Order No. 4, which would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.