SC rules with finality on 2014 garlic pricing case

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan may now proceed with the trial for graft against former National Plant Quarantine Services Division-Bureau of Plant and Industry chief Merle Palacpac in connection with her alleged involvement in manipulating garlic supply that led to a surge in prices in 2014.

This came after the Supreme Court Special Second Division denied with finality Palacpac’s appeal questioning the high court’s November 2021 resolution that dismissed her petition for certiorari and affirmed the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division resolutions denying her motion to quash the charges against her.

Palacpac was accused of conspiring with other officials of the Department of Agriculture in giving unwarranted advantage to selected individuals and private sector groups involved in growing and trading of garlic, allowing them to monopolize the supply of garlic in the country and dictating the prices of the product in the market from January to July 2014.

“By January to July 2014, the price of imported garlic soared from P260 to P400; on the other hand, the prices of native garlic varied from P250 to P450 in the months of April to June 2014,” the high court noted.

But the high tribunal said that the Sandiganbayan did not err in ruling that there was no inordinate delay in the disposition of the case.

It added that Palacpac failed to provide a plausible justification to establish that the alleged delay was malicious, politically motivated or unreasonable.

“No further pleadings or motions shall be entertained in this case,” the high court said.