The Sandiganbayan has ordered the dismissal of the fertilizer fund scam case against former mayor Leonard Martin Sr. of Aglipay, Quirino, because the investigators took almost 12 years to file the graft charge.
In a resolution dated July 26, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division granted the motion to dismiss the charge levelled against Martin. The court said his right to due process and speedy disposition of cases was violated.
The court also dismissed the case filed against then-municipal treasurer Maritoni Eustaqio, municipal accountant’s office officer-in-charge Gilvern Manzano, municipal supply officer Reynante Pastor, Argi-Component Corp. representative Elpideo Colobong Jr., and Agricomp head Elmer Baquiran for the same charge.
Martin and his co-accused public officials allegedly conspired with each other when they favored a contract with Agricomp without public bidding as they resorted to direct contracting. The alleged offense took place between May 2004 and June 2006,
The contract was intended for the purchase of one unit of Kubota Tractor 4WD Model 90000DT valued at P2.09 million worth, one unit of Agricomp Harrow Model 10×10 frame, at P180,000; two units of dumping trailer double tire at P220,000 each, a Multi Crop Thresher worth P121,000, and one set of maintenance tools worth P59,000.
