Published March 17, 2021, 1:38 PM
Three former provincial officials of Oriental Mindoro have been convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan in the purchase of P3.2 million worth of fertilizers in 2004.
Convicted were former provincial agriculturist Rodolfo V. Valdez, provincial treasurer Paz P. Fortunato, and accountant Ma. Cynthia A. Puyat.
But the anti-graft court acquitted them of malversation charges for failure of the prosecution to prove that they misappropriated, took, or permitted another person to take public funds.
They were charged with violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and two counts each of violations of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code or Malversation of Public Funds.