Sandiganbayan acquits former Romblon lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division has acquitted former Romblon Rep. Perpetuo Ylagan and two others of falsification charges in relation to a case stemming from the allegedly irregular delivery of liquid fertilizer in 2004, saying the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Acquitted with Ylagan were provincial agriculturist Geishler Fadri and senior agriculturist and inspection officer Oscar Galos.

The prosecution alleged that the accused made it appear that the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist received 2,000 bottles of liquid fertilizer from National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity Inc. of the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program in 2004, even though no such delivery was made. —Patricia Denise M. Chiu