MANILA, Philippines -The Sugar Regulatory Administration bared the existence of fake certificates to import a total of 40,000 metric tons of sugar and said it would “not take this incident lightly and will launch an investigation into these irregularities.”
A statement from Administrator Anna Paner said the fake certificates, supposedly “attesting to the intention of Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) to import 10,000 Metric Tons (MT) and 30,000 MT Sugar, were brought to the attention of SRA Regulations Office” on Monday and were confirmed to be “fraudulent and a result of forgery.”
Paner said two supposed board resolutions, dated October 25 and November 15, cited in the certificates did not exist because “no such board meetings took place.”
She added that the certificates’ format did not follow that approved by the SRA and her signatures on the documents were forged.
Paner urged care with documents supposedly issued by the agency, particularly those involving imports, as she noted that the Department of Agriculture, to which the SRA belongs, “has been inundated with requests for verification of import licenses/permits.”
Over the years, there have been many attempts to smuggle cheaper foreign sugar into the country.
Source: Interaksyon.com
