Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles (NIB photo by Rey Baniquet)
MANILA – "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, Malacañang said Friday.
"Continuing po iyong ating imbestigasyon. Ito na po 'yung response (That's the response)," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said during the Laging Handa program. "If there are sufficient findings, then heads will roll."
Cruz-Angeles issued the statement in response to Senator Imee Marcos' call for the immediate reshuffle of the Department of Agriculture's (DA) highest officials following the illegal issuance of a sugar importation order.
Marcos on Wednesday urged her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., to reshuffle Agriculture officials to dismantle alleged criminal syndicates within the DA.
This, as the senator alleged that the incident proves that "thick-faced" agricultural smugglers are "lording it over" at the DA.
Cruz-Angeles assured the investigation into the unauthorized signing of the importation order would be "more extensive."
She added that the President might "probably go beyond" his sister's recommendation, depending on the results of the investigation.
"I’m sure the President has already noted this. Wala lang po kaming ipapahayag pa sa ngayon tungkol sa mga plano (We cannot reveal the plans yet) because the investigation will probably cover a more extensive review than simply the resolution that was issued by the Sugar Regulatory Board," she said.
On Wednesday, Cruz-Angeles announced President Marcos' decision to reject the proposal of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to import 300,000 MT of sugar amid the high price of sugar in the market.
President Marcos, who concurrently serves as DA chief, is also the chairperson of the SRA.
Prior to Cruz-Angeles' announcement, the resolution which allegedly approved the sugar importation was uploaded on the SRA's website but later deleted. (PNA)
