BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) forwarded a recommendation to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to allow the 80,000 bags of sugar seized at the Batangas Port last week to be sold through the Kadiwa Rolling Stores.
In a statement released by SRA administrator David John Thaddeus Alba yesterday morning, he revealed that on Friday, Jan. 13, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized an estimated 4,000 metric tons of refined sugar which were being attempted to be smuggled via the M/V Sunward, a cargo ship originating from Thailand.
The seized bag of sugar was valued at around P240 million.
Following the successful operation, Alba thanked the BOC’s enforcement unit and Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz for their vigilance in stopping the smuggling of sugar.
Alba said he will make representation to the President to have these sugar sold through Kadiwa so the public “can enjoy refined sugar at a lower cost.”
He also warned traders who are in cahoots with the smugglers that “the full force of the law will go after you,” adding that he has asked all government enforcement agencies to provide them with the necessary information so they can go after sugar smugglers./PN
