Garcia plunder case justice to handle fertilizer fund scam

Manila, Philippines - The P728-million plunder case against former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. and former undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante has landed in the same Sandiganbayan court handling the controversial plunder case against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

But with Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval’s retirement last month, the anti-graft court’s Second Division is now chaired by Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos with Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr. as the only regular member because the third seat is now vacant.

Associate Justice Samuel Martires, who actually belongs to the Sandiganbayan Third Division, will not be handling the Lorenzo and Bolante plunder case because he was only allowed to handle that of Garcia as a special member.

 Diaz-Baldos was one of those who approved the controversial plea bargaining agreement between government prosecutors and the former military general which the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is still trying to stop.

Lorenzo will face trial for allegedly allowing Bolante to handle millions in allegedly misused funds, a huge part of which remains unaccounted for.

Several other former agriculture officials, former governors, and former congressmen are also facing plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the fertilizer fund anomaly.

With the plunder case raffled, Sandiganbayan spokesperson Renator Bocar said Second Division Justices have ten days to study the complaint and the records of the case.