Ex-Romblon lawmaker cleared of falsification

MANILA,Philippines — Former Romblon congressman Perpetuo Ylagan has been cleared of the charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan for falsification of public documents over the alleged ghost delivery of liquid fertilizer to the province in 2004.

Ylagan’s co-accused provincial agriculturist Geishler Fadri was also acquitted.

In a decision promulgated on Oct. 11, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division said documents and testimonies of witnesses presented by state prosecutors did not support claims that Ylagan and Fadri falsified public documents.

In filing the charges in March 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman said the former officials falsified an undated certificate of acceptance issued in connection with the implementation by the National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity Inc. of the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Inputs and Farm Implements program.

“The prosecution failed to substantiate its allegation that irregularities surround the delivery of the 2,000 bottles of liquid organic fertilizer to Romblon,” the court ruling read. 

“There is no untruthful statement... in the undated certificate of acceptance and inspection and acceptance report dated June 23, 2004,” it added.