Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9) — Senator JV Ejercito said he wants a subpoena to be issued against Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban for missing two consecutive hearings on the sugar smuggling issue.
“He is wasting a lot of time of a lot of people, not only the senators, executive secretary [Lucas Bersamin], some officials… and stakeholders,” he also told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Tuesday.
On Monday, Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Francis Tolentino decided to postpone the hearing on the alleged state-sponsored smuggling of sugar due to the absence of some officials from the executive, including Panganiban.
Ejercito expressed disappointment because many government officials, including Bersamin, made an effort to be present during the hearing.
The senator also said they were not informed about the Agriculture official’s absence, who is a vital personality in the issue being discussed.
“The Blue Ribbon is for public accountability of government officials and it is very important for us to get to the bottom of any scams, scandals,” Ejercito emphasized.
Bersamin told senators on Monday that Panganiban is in Washington D.C. until May 13 on an official mission.
