By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Coca-Cola has again drawn flak from sugar industry stakeholders over its alleged “double- talk.”
“It is ironic for them to continue questioning the constitutionality of Sugar Order No. 3 when even before the Senate hearing, they already acknowledged publicly the validity of SO 3,” said lawyer Emilio Yulo, spokesperson of the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines. “In fact, right at the Senate hearing, they said they are withdrawing this case they lodged against the Sugar Regulatory Administration, Department of Agriculture, and Bureau of Customs,” he added.
“They announced withdrawal of their petition for preliminary injunction because they know full well that that would have been denied because there is no more urgency on the matter since they themselves requested resetting of the hearing in their failure to present their own witness,” Yulo pointed out.
He also scored the multinational company for employing a slew of legal tactics to flout Philippine government policy, saying, “Perhaps because they have a battery of lawyers, they can afford to play with us and in the process encumber our government agencies who have better things to do than face off with Coke in our courts.”
On Monday, Coke filed the “notice of withdrawal of the application for issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction with motion for cancellation of hearing on 10 May 2017.”
The notice said Coke is withdrawing its application for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction in order that the case be immediately heard on its merits and decided by the court.
However, the company maintains its application for a writ of permanent injunction following the determination of the Constitutionality of SO 3 after the trial on the merits.
Considering Coke’s withdrawal of its bid for a writ of preliminary injunction, it moved that a hearing set May 10 be cancelled.
“It is clear now that Coke is playing with us and with our national government, insults our Senate proceedings and refuses to respect state policies,” Yulo said.
Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said the entry of HFCS is also banned in his province.
Degamo, who was in Bacolod yesterday morning, said once he returns to Dumaguete City, he will order his provincial agriculturist to investigate if HFCS is entering Negros Oriental.
“I’ll order my provincial agriculturist to look into this, as it is not allowed in the province,” Degamo said.
When pressed if he is planning to impose a boycott on Coke products similar to what is being done currently in Negros Occidental, Degamo stated he currently doesn’t have such plans for Negros Oriental.
Like Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental’s agriculture also relies heavily on sugar./WDJ