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Sandiganbayan junks graft case vs. dead DAR official

Philippines | National

Sandiganbayan junks graft case vs. dead DAR official

By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki

Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the graft charge filed against the late Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Chief Administrative Officer Abundio E. Bernardo Jr. on account of his death.

"Accordingly, considering the confirmation of the death of accused Bernardo Jr. made by the prosecution, the 'Motion to Dismiss Case Against Accused Bernardo and to Release Cash Bond' dated Sept. 15, 2020 filed by Atty. Floyd P. Lawlet, counsel for accused Bernardo Jr., is granted," the court’s resolution stated.

Bernardo had posted P30,000 bail for his provisional liberty, and it may be withdrawn by his widow subject to the anti-graft court's usual accounting rules and procedures.

He and former Zamboanga del Sur 1st District Rep. Isidoro Real Jr., former Regional Executive Director Oscar Parawan, Supervising Agriculturist Samuel Simbajon, Accountant III Ma. Perlice Julian, and Administrative Officer III Maribel Abdulbari were charged with graft in connection with the 2004 purchase of liquid fertilizer worth P5 million.

The prosecution alleged that the purchase price of P800 per bottle of fertilizer was overpriced by P610 and thus the transaction caused undue injury to the government in the amount of P3,812,500.

Due to the physical closure of the Sandiganbayan, it could not be ascertained immediately what has happened to the cases of Real and the other co-accused.

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