Sandigan junks coco levy case over government ‘delay’
MANILA, Philippines — Citing a “30-year long delay” that violated the defendants’ right to a speedy trial, the Sandiganbayan has dismissed the civil forfeiture case in connection with the reported misuse and misappropriation of coconut levy funds.
Filed in 1987 by the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the case stemmed from the P426 million contributed by coconut farmers for the supposed production of hybrid coconut seedlings in Palawan.
The anti-graft court said the government contributed to the delay, with its motions for extension and failure to promptly prosecute the case and present evidence until the March 2025 hearing.
“Disadvantages brought by the delay should be borne not by the defendants, but by plaintiff Republic,” the court asserted.
The remaining defendants in the case were Agricultural Investors Inc., former Pangasinan congressman Marcos Cojuangco and Rafael Abello.
Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg penned the resolution, with the concurrence of Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Gener Gito.
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