Sandigan upholds NABCOR exec’s conviction over P95 million procurement mess

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of an official of the abolished state firm National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR) over the allegedly anomalous procurement of P95.5 million worth of post-harvest facilities and equipment in 2007-2008.

“This Court finds no compelling reason to amend, alter, revise or even reverse its ruling sought to be reconsidered,” the anti-graft court’s Third Division said in its resolution dated June 24, denying the motion for reconsideration of NABCOR human resources and administrative manager Encarnita Cristina Munsod.

Munsod was seeking the reversal of the court’s Feb. 23, 2024 decision, which found her and two other former officials of NABCOR – accounting assistant Maria Ninez Guañizo and general services unit head Romulo Relevo – guilty of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case stemmed from NABCOR’s payment of P95.52 million to private supplier Agri Component Corp. (AgriCom) for the supposed delivery and installation of post-harvest facilities and equipment, including a rice mill, flatbed dryer, shed and storage, crop threshers, rice harvesters or reapers, digital moisture meter and platform weighing scale.

In the resolution, the Third Division maintained that the prosecution team of the ombudsman was able to sufficiently establish the conspiracy among Munsod, Guañizo and Relevo to award the contract and release the full payment to AgriCom despite several irregularities, such as incomplete supporting documents and lack of proof of complete delivery.

The court had earlier sentenced them to six to eight years of imprisonment with the accessory penalty of absolute perpetual disqualification from holding public office.