The Department of Agriculture (DA) respects the acquittal of former Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian and three former officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
In a decision dated December 29, the Office of the President absolved Sebastian, former SRA administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, former SRA board member Roland Beltran, and former SRA board member Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama, Jr. of any liabilities over the issuance of Sugar Order No. 4.
SO No. 4 would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
The Office of the President found that Sebastian and the three former SRA executives issued the importation order 'in good faith absent any showing that the respondents were aware of their lack of authority'.
"(Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin) has already approved yung decision na iyan," said DA Asec. Rex Estoperez on Thursday, January 4, during the Laging Handa press briefing.
"We have to respect kung ano ang decision na iyon dahil maimbestigahan naman iyan, nag-present na yung ibang sides ng kanilang panig," Estoperez stressed.
The acquittal could pave the way for Sebastian to return to the Agriculture department.
"Iyan ang pinag-usapan namin, doon sa Department of Agriculture kung anong position, kung anong situation kung sakaling babalik," Estoperez said.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee previously recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman file administrative charges against Sebastian and the three SRA officials over the sugar importation fiasco.
