Sandiganbayan affirms criminal raps vs DA exec over P133M onion scam

THE Sandiganbayan has affirmed the validity of the graft and falsification charges filed on June 28, 2024 against former Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista, executives of the Food Terminal Inc (FTI), and private defendants connected to Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative in relation to alleged irregularities in the procurement of P133 million worth of onions in December 2022 to January 2023.

In its 16-page ruling dated August 30, 2024, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division denied Evangelista’s Motion to Quash together with her request for the court to hold in abeyance the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.

Associate Justice Maryann E. Corpus-Mañalac penned the resolution with the concurrence of Associate Justices Kevin Narce B. Vivero and Rafael R. Lagos.

Evangelista challenged the findings of the Office of the Ombudsman that she was involved in the transaction, and that probable cause exists to indict her on two counts of graft.

Graft investigators accused the DA official of conspiring with the co-accused FTI officials in giving unwarranted reference and advantage to Bonena by awarding the latter the delivery contract for 8,845 bags of onions with a total price of P132.99 million.

They said the FTI even paid an advance downpayment of P66.5 million to Bonena representing 50 percent of the contract cost in violation of the provisions of the Government Procurement Reform Law (RA 9184).

Evangelista allegedly approved the selection of the cooperative that will supply agricultural commodities and picked Israel Reguyal, president of Bonena, for the onion delivery contract.

Also charged in both cases were FTI vice president John Gabriel Trinidad III, warehouse supervisor Benedict Libres, and warehouse staff Marlon Pagsisihan.

From Bonena, those who were charged were Reguyal, and drivers Jocelyn Jane, Rossul Batadhay, Romy Jimeno, Charlito Ylanan, Francisco Laplana III, Arnold Osorio, Angelo Lajom, Randy Santos, Erickson Cortez, Ruben Bautista, Vince Lorenzo, Windell Canaan, and AJ Balama.

The Sandiganbayan said that contrary to Evangelista’s contention, her lack of involvement in the Letter of Agreement between the FTI and Bonena does not clear