Former agri exec indicted for graft

A former official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in South Cotabato will stand trial for falsification of public documents in the Sandiganbayan over his alleged unauthorized use of a government vehicle in 2012.

In a statement, the Office of the Ombudsman on said former Agriculture Acting Director III Jose Balatucan Jr. has been indicted for 13 counts of violation of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code after he allegedly forged trip tickets in using the service vehicle assigned to his office.

The antigraft body said Balatucan had claimed that he was still the DA regional technical director (RTD) for Research and Development in Koronadal City when he used the vehicle between March and May 2012.

At the time, it said Balatucan had been ordered to relinquish his post and was appointed supervisor of the Aroman Seed Station.

“Respondent was fully aware that he was no longer the designated RTD when he signed the trip tickets as he was already relieved from that designated position,” the Ombudsman said.

In his defense, Balatucan said his designation as head of the seed station was just an added assignment for him and that he was still the RTD when he used the service vehicle.