Dead ex-Sulu gov convicted over fertilizer scam

MANILA, Philippines — Death did not spare former Sulu governor Yusop Jikiri from criminal conviction in connection with his involvement in the fertilizer fund scam.

In a 55-page decision promulgated on Friday, the Sandiganbayan found Jikiri guilty of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and malversation as provided under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

Also found guilty of the same offenses was Oscar Parawan, former chief of the Department of Agriculture-Zamboanga peninsula office.

Jikiri and Parawan were sentenced to six to 10 years in prison for graft and 10 to 16 years for malversation.

Aside from prison terms, the accused were disqualified from holding public office and ordered to pay a fine of P3.25 million, or equivalent to the amount of public funds malversed.

The anti-graft court also ordered the accused to indemnify the provincial government of Sulu with another P3.25 million, with a corresponding six percent interest per year until fully paid.

The decision came amid reports of Jikiri’s death last month.

In a statement released earlier by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Jikiri, 66, died of bone cancer on Oct. 17.

Jikiri was chairman of the MNLF at the time of his death. He served as governor of Sulu from 2001 to 2004 and representative of the first district from 2007 to 2010.

The law provides that the criminal liability of an accused is totally extinguished if he dies before the court promulgates its final judgment on the case.

Jikiri’s death was not mentioned in the ruling of the Sandiganbayan. It remains unclear whether his camp was able to formally inform the court about his death.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft court ordered the charges against the two other respondents, former provincial accountant Mussah Jumsali and treasurer Amilkadra Amilasan, be archived as they have yet to be arrested.

The case against them will be revived as soon as they are arrested.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in April 2018, the cases stemmed from the procurement by the provincial government of soil conditioner and fertilizer amounting to P3.25 million from private supplier Rim Allied Merchandise in 2004.

The ombudsman said the contract was awarded without public bidding.