5 ex-DBP officials, 5 others face graft raps

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed with the Sandiganbayan graft charges against five former officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and five executives of a soybean processing company over a total of P207.2 million in loans granted to the firm between 1979 and 1982.

Ombudsman prosecutor Evangeline Grafil identified the respondents, who were charged for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as Rafael Sison, Jose de Ocampo, Jose Tengco and Recio Garcia, all former DBP board members, and former DBP manager Dino Crucillo.

Also named respondents were alleged Marcos crony Roberto Benedicto, Roberto Sabido, Antonio Tan, Miguel Gonzales and Federico Ballon, all former officials of the Philippine Asia Food Industries Corp. with offices at the NFA building on E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City.

Grafil recommended a P30,000 bail for the temporary liberty of each of the respondents.

The graft charges stemmed from the loans totaling P207,159.42 which the DBP granted to the Philippine Asia Food Industries Corp. (PAFICO) between Dec. 7, 1979 and June 8, 1982.

Grafil said the loans were granted to PAFICO "despite the fact that at the time of the grant, the corporation had no adequate collateral to offer and was also undercapitalized, thus causing undue injury to the government."

She said the late former strongman Ferdinand Marcos issued a letter of instruction directing different government agencies and financial institutions "to cooperate with the amelioration of commercial soybean production nationwide."

Records showed that from December 1979 to June 1982, the Marcos government launched its food security program and focused on, among other activities, soybean processing with PAFICO putting up the sole plant for such purpose.