The Sandiganbayan has junked the graft cases filed against two officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in connection with the fertilizer fund scam.
The Special Fifth Division of the anti-graft court granted the motion to quash the charges being faced by DA Officer-In-Charge Regional Technical Director Rodolfo Guieb and DA Regional Executive Director Dennis Araullo.
The justices ruled that it has taken the Ombudsman quite a long time in resolving the case and eventually filing it in court.
They said, “the time spent pending preliminary investigation with the Ombudsman already reeks of inordinate delay.”
The court also noted, “from August 24, 2011 to April 4, 2014, the case languished with the Ombudsman.”
The Sandiganbayan ruled that this denied the accused of their right to speedy disposition of cases.
Gueib and Araullo were charged with graft over the alleged anomalous procurement of P 3.2 million worth of liquid fertilizers from Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (MAMFI) in 2004.
The Ombudsman had said the transaction lacked public bidding.
Former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes is also among the accused in the case.