PRESIDENTIAL sister and Sen. Imee Marcos yesterday blasted officials of the Department of Agriculture over the department’s plan to import white onions supposedly to address a supply shortage and escalating prices in the local market.
“Let this serve as a fair warning to all concerned: We are aware of the modus operandi going on. It’s the same old story. Paulit-ulit na lang, eh (It just keeps repeating itself),” Marcos said.
“First, they smuggle. Then they create a shortage and produce a legitimate import permit.
By next week, I have no doubt smuggled onions will flood the market covered by a ‘legitimate’ importation order of gargantuan proportions,” she also said.
The senator said she remains unconvinced of a local shortage of white onions since the agriculture department has not presented inventories of the crop vis-í -vis its planting and harvest seasons.
“The DA was urged to assess white onion shortage, as it was asked on sugar and porcine processed animal protein shortages. Again, no data could be presented, just blanket claims that ‘Wala po talagang laman ang mga bodegang pinuntahan namin’ (The warehouses we inspected were really empty),” Marcos said.
She said she would not allow erring officials to continue ripping the consuming public.
“Tama na, buking na! Hindi na kami magpapaloko (Quit it, you’ve been exposed. You can’t fool us anymore),” she added.
Earlier, the senator urged her brother, President Marcos Jr. to reshuffle DA’s highest officials and “dismantle criminal syndicates within the government.”
This after the DA issued an order which allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar on top of what had been imported in May. Malacañang later denied the President allowed the importation as it ordered an investigation into the incident.
Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian has owned up to the incident and said it was he who signed the order. He has tendered his resignation.
