Ex-Sarangani governor, agriculturist get 18 years over agri relief scam

A former governor and agriculturist of Saranggani province have been sentenced to up to 18 years imprisonment after they were found guilty of malversation of public funds over anomalies in the implementation of P1.44-million worth of relief program for farmers in 2001.

In a 23-page ruling recently issued by the Sandiganbayan Special Third Division, former Sarangani governor Miguel Escobar and former provincial agriculturist Romeo Miole were found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of diverting P1.44-million worth of agricultural relief items intended for farmers who were victims of La Niña to the then-governor’s political supporters.

In a vote of 3-2, the anti-graft court sentenced Escobar and Miole of a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of 18 years of imprisonment and a fine of P1.44 million each. The two were also meted with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Based on trial records, the provincial government launched the Sagip Taniman Program in 2001 aimed at distributing sacks of hybrid rice and corn seeds to farmers whose crops were affected by several typhoons and floodings that hit the province in the past year due La Niña.

On papers, local officials reported that 1,875 sacks of rice grains and 240 sacks of hybrid corn and rice seeds were distributed to farmers and several members of indigenous tribes.

However, in 2002, several tribal leaders and farmers demanded help from the provincial government, saying that they have yet to receive any agricultural assistance since their crops were destroyed by the La Niña phenomenon.

Due to the mounting complaint against the provincial government, the Commission on Audit launched an investigation on the Sagip Taniman Program, and found it to have been “replete with irregularities.”

State auditors said the supply contract for the agricultural relief items was awarded to a supplier who was not accredited by the National Food Authority. They further noted that provincial officials were also unable to identify the target areas planted by the hybrid corn and rice seeds.

The COA said their investigation revealed that the relief items were instead distributed to favored towns and local officials who were known supporters of Escobar as a form of “political reward,” a week before a barangay election.

“The annual audit report…reveals that the actual recipients were mostly government officials of Sarangani province and not farmers and fisherfolks who were victims of the flashflood,” the court said in its ruling penned by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz.

“The RIVs (requisition and issuance vouchers) submitted by the OPAG (Office of the Provincial Agriculturist) showed that the sacks of rice were indeed distributed to municipal and barangay officials on June 30, 2002, one week before the barangay election,” the court added.

The ruling was concurred in by Associate Justices Alexander Gesmundo and Maria Cristina Cornejo, while Associate Justices Jose Hernandez and Samuel Martires dissented.

The court dismissed Escobar’s excuse that he was not aware that the relief items did not reach its intended beneficiary.

At the course of the trial, Escobar’s camp repeatedly pointed out that it was actually Rep. Erwin Chiongbian who ordered that the relief items be distributed to selected municipal and barangay officials.

Escobar said he even ordered an investigation after he found out that the relief goods did not reach its intended beneficiaries.

The court, however, said that Escobar’s excuse "hard to believe" and can be considered an admission of negligence.

“The Court finds it hard to believe that a project involving distribution of 1,875 sacks of rice that took place in his province and which he was duty-bound to supervise escaped his attention. It would even be considered as an admission of negligence,” the Third Division said.

The court pointed out that Escobar and Miole were both signatories in several documents pertaining to the program. The court further said that there was also no action or findings that came out from the provincial government’s supposed investigation on the incident.

“Wherefore, the Court hereby renders judgment…finding Miguel D. Escobar and Romeo S. Miole guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the component crime of Malversation of Public Funds,” the court said. —KBK, GMA News