By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Office of the Ombudsman will continue its investigation on former officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) despite being cleared of any wrongdoings by the Office of the President in relation to the issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4).

In an interview with GMA Super Radyo dzBB, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said the investigation is still ongoing on former SRA head Hermenegildo Serafica, board members Roland Beltran and Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama, Jr., and former Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, but for now, the Ombudsman will remain mum on the conduct of the investigation.

Martires pointed out they do not care if Malacañang has already cleared the four of any wrongdoings.

He also said the decision of the Office of the President would not affect their probe of the case.

“Kung sa tingin namin [if] there is probable cause for filing a complaint against these officials before the Sandiganbayan, there is a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, I don’t care what Malacañang says,” Martires said.

Last week, Valderrama told Watchmen Daily Journal that the dismissal of the charges against him and the others was “a vindication that he has always prayed for and believed in.”

The cases stemmed from the issuance of SO4 which would have mandated the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

The order was deemed “illegal” by Malacañang as it was not approved by Marcos.

Last year, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the signatories of the controversial SO4.

Both Serafica and Beltran later resigned from their posts, with Beltran stating that his resignation was due to “health reasons.”/DGB, WDJ