House panel orders subpoenas against ‘Sibuyas Queen,’ others

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House committee on agriculture and food on Tuesday ordered the issuance of subpoenas against suspected “Sibuyas

Queen” Lilia Cruz, alias Leah Cruz for the latter’s failure to attend the congressional hearing for the second time.

The committee, chaired by Quezon

Rep. Mark Enverga, also issued a subpoena against Cruz’s fellow resource person Ernesto Francisco of YOM Trading to compel their presence to the congres-

TECHNICAL DIVER. A technical diver prepares to dive inside a 2,200-millimeter steel pipe located seven meters underground to repair a major leak on Maynilad’s primary line in Makati City.

Danny Pata

sional investigation on what legislators believe to be an artificial shortage of the commodity that led to high prices during the Christmas season of 2022.

During the continuation of the panel’s inquiry on the agricultural hoarding issue on Tuesday (March 7), Enverga said told the committee that Cruz and Francisco were absent in Tuesday’s hearing as they had to appear before the Sandiganbayan.

Cruz, a self-described agri-preneur who is implicated in the spike of onion (sibuyas) prices during the previous quar- ter, failed twice to attend the committee hearing.

Even if Enverga found Cruz and Francisco’s excuse “valid,” he said the committee believes they still have to be compelled to attend the congressional inquiry on the matter.

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo said that the subpoena should force the two resource persons to cooperate and attend the hearing.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr also agreed that Cruz has to appear before