By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) filed graft charges against Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a statement released by NACUSIP president Roland dela Cruz, they are accusing Panganiban of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code on usurpation of authority or official functions in relation to the “sugar smuggling fiasco” last February.

Dela Cruz claimed that Panganiban allegedly allowed the importation of sugar without official authority to do so, and allegedly “legitimized” smuggled sugar from All Asian Countertrade Inc.

They also claimed that on February 9, bags of sugar arrived in Batangas Port without import permits.

They were allegedly owned by All Asian Countertrade.

NACUSIP further alleged that Panganiban then issued Sugar Order No. 6 to effectively “cure” the lack of permit for the said importation by issuing a memorandum and referred the shipment of All Asian Countertrade.

Dela Cruz said farmers and workers in the sugar industry have been gravely affected by the sudden influx of imported sugar into the market./DGB, WDJ