MANILA, Philippines - Nearly three years after being filed at the Sandiganbayan, the graft case against former Marinduque governor Carmencita Reyes and other respondents involving a P5-million fertilizer fund anomaly in 2004 is expected to proceed.
Government lawyers have filed pre-trial briefs before the anti-graft court’s Second Division on Tuesday.
State auditors led by Flerida Jimenez, Erlina Mari and Nelia Villeza, along with officials of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of Finance (DOF), are among those listed as witnesses for the prosecution.
Reyes is accused of involvement in allegedly questionable transactions with private contractor LCV Design and Fabrication Corp. chosen as supplier for unsuitable fertilizer products without public bidding.
The Sandiganbayan had scheduled Reyes for arraignment on Jan. 14, but defense lawyers are trying to move for a postponement on grounds that a petition for review has been filed before the Supreme Court.