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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ex-Catanduanes governor pleads guilty to lesser offense in fertilizer case

Ex-Catanduanes governor pleads guilty to lesser offense in fertilizer case

Published Sep 24, 2020 03:51 pm

Former Catanduanes Gov. Leandro Verceles Jr. and several of his co-accused have pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of Frauds Against the Public Treasury instead of graft before the Sandiganbayan First Division involving the irregular purchase of fertilizers back in 2004.

They escaped a possible prison sentence and were fined just P1,000 each, with subsidiary penalty in case of insolvency.

Verceles was initially charged with a violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act alongside then Provincial Treasurer Julieta Tasarra, Provincial Department Head Rodolfo Maliñana, Administrative Officer IV Roger Pitajen, and Assistant Provincial Assessor Abelardo Abundo Jr.

Private individuals Deonilla Gregorio, Reginald Gregorio, Redentor Antolin, Derek Glass, Hep Chee Kin, and Andrew Sarinas, all incorporators of Feshan Philippines Inc., were also charged with graft.

The graft charge stemmed from the purchase of 2,166 liters of Bio-Nature Biological Fertilizer for P1,500 per liter totalling P3.25 million through direct contracting.

After their motions to quash were denied by the anti-graft court, the accused manifested that they wanted to plea bargain to the lesser offense of Frauds Against the Public Treasury.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires accepted their proposal last Feb. 19, provided that they solidarily pay Catanduanes the civil liability of P3.25 million. The accused agreed.

The anti-graft court ruled on Sept. 18 to accept their plea bargaining agreement and allowed Verceles, Tasarra, Maliñana, Abundo, Deonilla, Gregorio, and Antolin to be re-arraigned and plead guilty to the crime of Frauds Against the Public Treasury.

Glass, Kin, and Sarinas remain at large despite the warrant of arrest issued against them.

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