Department Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian has resigned after Malacañang announced that he “illegally” signed and issued Sugar Order No. 4 granting the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar without the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
A copy of Sebastian’s resignation letter addressed to Marcos, who is also concurrent DA secretary, was released to the media by Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles Friday night, August 12.
Sebastian, DA undersecretary for operations and chief of staff to the agriculture secretary, apologized for having approved SO4 on Marcos’ behalf through the authority he had vested on him.
“I has become clear that the same was not in keeping with your administration’s desired direction for the sugar industry,” Sebastian said.
“I take accountability and responsibility for the consequences,” he said.
“An investigation is ongoing to determine whether any acts that will cause the President to lose trust and confidence in his officials can be found, or if there is malice or negligence involved,” Cruz-Angeles said on Thursday.
“It appears that the resolution was signed for and on behalf of the president by Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian. He was not authorized to sign such a resolution because the president did not authorize the importation,” Cruz-Angeles said.
EO4 was also signed by SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, and board members Roland Beltran for the millers and Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr. for the planters.
Serafica could not be reached for comment.
His resignation is also being sought by Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer.*
