Former DA-Ilocos execs get 60 years over fertilizer scam

MANILA, Philippines — Two former regional officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) have been sentenced to up to 60 years in prison for graft in connection with the 2004 fertilizer scam.

In a 38-page decision promulgated on March 29, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division found Francisco Casil, former Bids and Awards Committee chairman and chief administrative officer of the DA-Regional Field Unit 1 (Ilocos region) and Lourdes Gonzales, former DA-RFU 1 budget officer and BAC member, guilty of six counts each of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

They were sentenced to time in prison for a minimum of six years and a maximum of 10 years for each count of the offense or a total of 36-60 years in jail for all six counts.

The court also ordered their perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Furthermore, they were directed to reimburse the DA-RFU1 a total of P3.414 million, representing the total amount of funds used for the anomalous procurement of the fertilizer.

Meanwhile, the cases against the primary accused, former DA-RFU1 executive director Reinerio Belarmino Jr. were ordered temporarily archived as he remains at large, without prejudice to their revival upon his arrest or surrender.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2018, the cases stemmed from the 2004 procurement of liquid fertilizers – 2,166 bottles from Farmate International Technologies Inc. and 584 bottles from the Central Luzon Farmers Agro Center in 2004.