Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr., Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III (l-r) react to dismissal of case*
Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr., former Sugar Board member and now national president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED), called the dismissal of the case lodged against him and other former members of the Sugar Board a vindication, which was nothing short of a miracle.
The Office of the President (OP) has dismissed the case for grave misconduct, grave dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service lodged against Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio S. Sebastian, Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and board members Roland B. Beltran and Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr. for the issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 (SO No. 4) authorizing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar in August last year.
All four have resigned from their posts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. halted the importation and the case was lodged against the four for the alleged unauthorized issuance of SO No.4.
The Office of the President in a 10-page decision signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin for Marcos, which was released this week, said from the totality of the evidence, the issuance of SO No. 4 was done in good faith absent any showing that the respondents were aware of their lack of authority.
The decision also said there exists no clear and convincing evidence to suggest that the respondents committed any misconduct. Notably, there is no showing that respondents issued the order to materially benefit from it, the decision said.
Neither can respondents be guilty of dishonesty, it said.
Valderrama, a Negrense, said he thanks God for hearing his prayers.
“This is the vindication that I have always prayed for and believed would come in due time, knowing that my actions as a member of Sugar Board was done in good faith, devoid of ill intentions and consistent with established agency procedures, “ he said.
Valderrama said “the stress that has caused so much grief to me and to my family has finally been lifted, with the issuance by the Office of the President of the decision absolving me as well as the rest of officers in the SRA involved in the case”.
He said it is now time to move forward.
FOCUS ON WORK
“It is time to set aside the issues that divide us and to focus instead on how we can work together. The sugar industry currently faces serious challenges that demands collective actions involving all stakeholders, in concert with government,” he said.
He called on government, through the Department of Agriculture and the SRA, “to take the lead in harnessing the talents, energies and resources within the industry, in concert with our legislators and concerned local governments as well as private sector partners, to help bring the sugar industry to its rightful place in the Philippine economy”.
CONFED will also endeavor “to undertake every possible effort, seek every opportunity and pursue all available avenues to promote the interests and welfare of our farmers and those who depend on them,” Valderrama said.
They offer their full cooperation in crafting of policies, plans and programs, and the adoption of measures that rebound to the benefit of the sugar industry and all its stakeholders in concert with government, he added.
SENATORS REACT
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committed, in its report approved by the Upper Chamber last year, had asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file graft charges against the four, for supposedly violating Republic Act No. 10845 or the anti-agricultural smuggling law, corruption and usurpation of authority.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday said “I shall no longer comment on the case. We no longer want to fuel any more disunity within the sugar industry”.
“It is now high time we work together to strengthen our industry or face the daunting threat of increasing imports due to inflation and high cost of food and fuel. That is what we need to focus on now”, Zubiri said.
“Good that the OP doesn’t mind being on the same side as the senate minority. Good too that the OP is being ‘really objective’ in this case. I am glad for the four affected personalities. This will at least give them and their families a chance to repair their image and reputation,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said.
HAPPY WIFE
Valderrama initially did not want to take on the job of Sugar Board member representing the planters, because his wife is ill but accepted it because he was recommended by three sugar producers’ federations, he said.
His wife, Marie Rose, has cervical cancer and he has to take care of her, Valderrama said, although she is now in remission.
A week after he assumed his Sugar Board post he along with its other members were accused of illegally issuing SO No. 4, he said, which was so stressful and affected his whole family.
“I am so happy especially for my wife, you should have seen her reaction (to dismissal of the case) yesterday,” Valderrama said.*