Hermenegildo Serafica said: “I performed the functions of my office consistent with, or within the bounds of the law“.
Malacañang has accepted the resignation of Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, who was one of four signatories of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
The Sugar Board importation order was revoked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for being issued “without his authority and approval”.
Serafica is the third member of the SRA Sugar Board who has resigned.
“In behalf of president Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., I wish to inform you that your resignation has been accepted, effective immediately,” Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez said in a letter to Serafica on Monday, August 15.
Serafica said he would like to put it on record that he tendered his resignation on August 10, he was simply waiting for the approval of the president before it could be made public.
“Today, I am officially leaving my post with a light heart and clear conscience knowing that I performed the functions of my office consistent with, or within the bounds of the law,” he said.
“Before I was asked to become part of SRA, I was a simple farmer. After this, I will go back to my first love, farming. I never thought of becoming a public servant but I became one. It was a long and taxing job but definitely meaningful and I thank those who gave me this once in a lifetime opportunity to serve the sugarcane industry and the Filipino people,” Serafica added.
Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian resigned on Friday after signing SO4 for and behalf of the president, and Roland Beltran, miller representative on the board, announced his resignation on Monday.
Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation, who has long been calling for the resignation of Serafica said “good riddance.”
“We are calling on Senate President (Juan Miguel) Zubiri to have Serafica investigated and if found guilty put him in jail. He has caused so much damage to the sugar industry”, Lamata said.
He thanked President Ferdinand Marcos, Senator Imee Marcos and Zubiri “for looking after the welfare of the sugar industry”.
The only remaining member of the Sugar Board is Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” Valderrama Jr.
Marcos appointed him to represent the planters on the board two weeks ago.*
