Arrest warrants in fertilizer scam case may come soon

MANILA, Philippines—The plunder case against former agriculture department officials led by Jocelyn Bolante and Luis Lorenzo in connection with the P728 million fertilizer fund scam was raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division on Friday, which means that the issuance of arrest warrants may not be far behind.

Under the court’s procedures, once a case is raffled to a division, the justices would study the records and determine if there is probable cause to issue arrest warrants. Plunder is a non-bailable offense.

But in some instances, the accused ask the court to defer the issuance of arrest warrants and determine if there is probable cause to warrant a trial.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division, now chaired by Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos, is the same one that approved the controversial plea bargain in the plunder case against former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

The composition of the division has changed, however, following the retirement last month of its former chair Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval. Sandoval, Baldos and Justice Samuel Martires ruled on the Garcia case.

The other members of the second division under Baldos are Justices Napoleon Inoturan and Oscar Herrera.

Aside from Bolante and Lorenzo, also charged with plunder were former agriculture Assistant Secretary Ibarra Poliquit and private fertilizer suppliers Jaime Paule, Marilyn Araos, Joselito Flordeliza, Marites Aytona, Leonicia Llarena and Jose Barredo, who is also the Senate’s whistleblower in the alleged scam.

The Office of the Ombudsman recommended no bail for their release.