MANILA (2ND UPDATE) — Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez on Tuesday abruptly showed up at the Senate hours after members of the Blue Ribbon committee voted to subpoena him for its continuing investigation on the sugar importation fiasco.

Rodriguez arrived at the Senate noontime or three hours after the committee commenced its third hearing into the controversy.

• Senate blue ribbon panel subpoenas ES Rodriguez to attend sugar mess probe

"I would like to sincerely apologize that we have to resort to issuing a subpoena... I have no intention to disrespect the senate as an institution," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez earlier said he would not be able to attend the Senate hearing "per instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr."

However, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said "it has always been a policy of the President to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations, be it in the Senate or in the House of Representatives."

"Cabinet Members who are called to testify as resource persons in any inquiry will continue to extend all courtesies to the Senate and the House of Representatives," Cruz-Angeles said.

DENIAL

During his appearance, Rodriguez answered some of the questions raised during the previous hearing, particularly the supposed "signals" from him and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that pushed officials to approve the controversial Sugar Order No. 4.

• Marcos 'aware' of SRA's intention to import sugar: official
• Ex-official, DA exec cite supposed 'signals' from Marcos in approving sugar import

Former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo Serafica and Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian earlier justified their decision to approve the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, later invalidated by Malacañang, after allegedly getting "signals" from the Palace.

"I deny that there was a signal from my end or that I have given them [the signal] to go ahead to pass that resolution on SO 4," Rodriguez said during Tuesday's hearing.

"We made it very clear to them that we're requiring a submission of an import plan prior to passage of SO 4," he added.

Earlier in the day, the committee voted to subpoena Rodriguez, who begged off the meeting amid his supposed busy schedule in relation to the state visits of Marcos.

• Rodriguez to skip Senate probe on sugar order due to busy sched

Marcos embarked on his first overseas trips as president to Indonesia and Singapore from Sunday through Wednesday. Rodriguez remained in the country, while Vice President Sara Duterte was designated as office-in-charge of the Office of the President.

• VP Duterte named OIC as Marcos leaves PH for state visits

Of the 14 Blue Ribbon Committee members who participated in the voting, 11 were in favoring of issuing a subpoena for Rodriguez. Three were against.

According to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, the subpoena was rendered "moot and academic" since Rodriguez was already in his office before he got to sign the order.

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