MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court has upheld its decision, which found former Cagayan de Oro representative and mayor Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula and four others guilty of graft in connection with the controversial fertilizer scam during the Arroyo administration.
In a November 4 resolution, the 2nd Division of the Sandiganbayan affirmed its July 8 decision against Joel Rudinas, who served as technical director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Northern Mindanao, budget officer Maria Reina Lumantas, accountant Claudia Artazo, and Evelyn de Leon, a private defendant.
The court, in its 35-page resolution, maintained that the group was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of conspiring to provide unwarranted benefits to the Philippine Social Development Foundation Incorporated (PSDFI), a bogus non-government organization, by contracting it to supply and distribute P3 million worth of fertilizers to farmers in Cagayan de Oro in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The former congressman and mayor, who has long retired from politics, and the rest of the accused were sentenced to six to 10 years of imprisonment. They were also barred from holding public office for life.
The Sandiganbayan, however, considered and granted Jaraula’s motion to set aside the civil liability requiring them to repay the P3 million with 6% yearly interest, accepting the former official’s assertion that there was an absence of proof that the fertilizer were not actually delivered to the intended beneficiaries.
Prosecutors were able to show “badges of evident bad faith, manifest partiality, and gross inexcusable negligence” in the actions of Jaraula, et. al, the Sandiganbayan stated.
“As exhaustively discussed, there is overwhelming evidence that proved the fact that the transaction involved herein is highly irregular. There is no denying that the acts performed by the accused were committed towards the common goal of awarding the project to PSDFI and releasing government funds to it,” read part of the November 4 resolution. – Rappler.com
