Senator Risa Hontiveros has called out the Marcos administration for allegedly trying to make a profit out of smuggled sugar intercepted at the Subic and Batangas ports.
Hontiveros questioned why the Department of Agriculture will be selling the smuggled sugar at P70 per kilo in Kadiwa stores when the supply was sourced abroad, where it is cheaper. She said government could already make a decent profit if sugar were sold at P61 per kilo.
“Smuggled na nga, pinatungan pa rin ng tubong lugaw? Mayroon talagang gustong kumita dito,” the senator said.
Hontiveros again mentioned the traders which she accused of being “favored” by the administration. She said the government should crack down on these firms and stop the alleged illegal importation of sugar for good.
“Kung seryoso talaga ang administrasyon na magkaroon ng sapat na asukal sa buong bansa, samsamin na sa lalong madaling panahon ang lahat ng inangkat ng tatlong paboritong importers na All Asian Countertrade, Edison Lee Marketing, at Sucden Philippines,” she said.
“Dapat i-black list rin ang mga importer na yan imbes na gobyerno ang napipilitang magligpit ng kanilang ilegal na supply,” Hontiveros added.