A former regional director of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Region IV has been cleared of a graft case filed against him in connection with an alleged unliquidated amount of the fertilizer fund that was given to the region.
The anti-graft court, in a 43-page decision promulgated on January 13, cleared former regional director Dennis Araullo of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act “for failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
“All things considered, the court is of the view that accused’s guilt was not proven beyond reasonable doubt in order for him to be convicted of the offense charged,” the Sandiganbayan said.
“The prosecution failed to prove the existence of a corrupt intent, dishonest design, and unethical interest which goes to the very nature of the offense charged,” the anti-graft court added.
The anti-graft court also ruled that the hold-departure order against Araullo to be lifted and that his bond to be released.
Araullo’s case stemmed from the nationwide special audit conducted by state auditors on the P728 million Farm Inputs/ Farm Implements
Program (FIFIP) fund under the DA’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Program.
Araullo was accused of causing injury to the government in the amount of P5.6 million–an amount which represented the unliquidated portion of the FIFIP given to the DA-Region IV.
“[T]he funds for the program were already fully transferred and received by their respective LGUs as evidenced by the receipts issued by the said LGUs. Hence, as stated in their respective MOAs, it was the LGU who was bound to identify the projects to which the fund will be alloted to.
“The record is bereft of evidence to show that it was the accused himself who selected and accredited these partner NGOs. In fact, the selection of NGO partners is not the task of the accused,” the Sandiganbayan added
The anti-graft court also stated that the prosecution failed to show that the partner NGOs were of dubious existence.