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Beltran resigns, lawmakers call for other SO4 signatories to quit

Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) called on all of those who signed SO4 to resign out of delicadeza at a House briefing on the sugar importation mess on Monday.

The millers’ representative on the Sugar Regulatory Administration Board resigned on Monday, August 15, and lawmakers are calling for the resignation of the rest of its members.

Roland Beltran was the second member of the Board to resign.

Department Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian resigned of Friday after Malacañang announced that he “illegally” signed and issued Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) granting the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar without the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

SO4 was also signed by Beltran, SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica and Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr., who represents the planters on the board.

Beltran in a letter submitted to Executive Secretary Vic Rodriquez said he was reigning due to health reasons without prejudice to any investigation that may be conducted in connection with the issuance of SO4.

His SO4 vote was conditional “subject to compliance of the provisions of the laws, rules and regulations, and the internal processes of SRA”, Beltran said.

“The action is thus withdrawn and negated due to non-compliance of the conditions set forth,” he added.

Beltran said he left the SRA on July 1 upon the expiration of his tour of duty but received an email from the SRA management stating that he remained a member of the board in a holdover capacity.

He reluctantly resumed his duties and responsibilities under pain of being accused of dereliction of duty, Beltran said.

Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) called on all of those who signed SO4 to resign out of delicadeza at a House briefing on the sugar importation mess on Monday.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri commended the resignation of Sebastian and Beltran, and called for the rest of the officials involved in SO4 to quit.

“Bakit hindi pa po sila nagreresign hanggang ngayon (why have they not resigned until now)? Particularly the head of the SRA who has been embroiled in so many controversies, and yet, kapit-tuko pa siya diyan sa pwesto na ’yan. If we want an impartial investigation, they should resign immediately,” he said in a privilege speech in the Senate Monday.*

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