Malacañang has accepted the resignation of Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo R. Serafica amid controversies surrounding the approval of an additional sugar import program.
In a letter dated August 15, Executive Secretary Victor D. Rodriguez told Serafica that his resignation has been accepted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Serafica’s resignation was effective immediately.
“On behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. I wish to inform you that your resignation has been accepted, effective immediately,” Rodriguez said in his letter, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror.
Based on Rodriguez’s letter, Serafica tendered his resignation as SRA administrator through a letter submitted to the Palace last August 10.
Serafica also confirmed to the BusinessMirror on Tuesday that the Palace has accepted his resignation last August 15.
“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,” Serafica told the BusinessMirror via SMS.
“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,” he added, noting that he was just a “simple” farmer before becoming SRA administrator.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles also confirmed on Tuesday that Marcos had accepted the resignation of Roland B. Beltran, the sugar millers’ representative to the SRA board.
Marcos accepted Beltran’s resignation last August 15 through a letter penned by Rodriguez. Beltran tendered his resignation last August 14.
Meanwhile, Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama Jr., the acting sugar planters’ representative to the SRA board, told reporters that he already wrote to Marcos telling the chief executive that he is at the President’s “disposal.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Valderrama explained his side regarding the controversies and issues surrounding Sugar Order (SO) 4, which was approved by the SRA board allegedly without the knowledge of Marcos, who is the concurrent agriculture secretary and chairperson of the board.
Valderrama, who took oath as SRA board member last August 6, pointed out that SO 4 was based on “facts and proper consultations.”
“The proposed sugar importation was based on SRA’s official data and supply/demand analysis, as well as prevailing high market prices, which established a clear basis for additional imports,” he said in his two-page statement.
“This is supported by resolutions from industry stakeholders themselves, including those who now demand our resignation, the resolutions are on record,” he explained.
Valderrama argued that SO 4 was the “sugar importation plan” that the SRA was “directed to prepare in order to address the problem of low supply and high prices.”
“Everything was in order up to Board Member level,” he said.