Raps vs ex-gov over fertilizer scam dismissed

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has cleared a former governor in connection with the fertilizer fund scam.

In a 14-page resolution released recently, the  special second division of the anti-graft court said the cases  filed against former Antique governor Salvacion Perez were dismissed for “insufficiency of evidence.”

The cases stemmed from Perez’s endorsement of the Antique Development Foundation Inc. (ADF) as recipient of P5 million in funds for the implementation of the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program of the Department of Agriculture in 2004.

The Sandiganbayan said there was no evidence showing Perez was the honorary chairman of the ADF when the alleged crime was committed.

The court said the prosecution failed to prove that Sally Z. Perez, who was listed as one of the incorporators of ADF, and Salvacion Z. Perez are one and same person.

“There is no evidence showing that if there was no other endorsement, ADF would not have been chosen as the recipient,” it added.