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The Sandiganbayan building in Quezon Cit on Feb. 19, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172560685589620200219-sandganbayan-headquarters-JC-8758.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">The Sandiganbayan building in Quezon Cit on Feb. 19, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </div>MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has upheld the validity and sufficiency of the graft and falsification charges against dismissed Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista over the controversial onion deal.This is linked to the alleged irregularities in the purchase of P133 million worth of onions from Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the agency&#x27;s Food Mobilization or Kadiwa Food Hub project from December 2022 to January 2023.Evangelista is accused of conspiring with Food Terminal Inc. officials for supposedly favoring BMC to be its supplier for 8,845 bags of onion worth P132.99 million. She also allegedly chose BMC President Israel Reguyal for the onion delivery deal.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/08/23/da-exec-no-show-at-nbis-probe-on-onion-procurement" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Agriculture exec no-show at NBI&#x27;s probe on onion procurement</a></div>In the 16-page ruling dated August 30, the Special Sixth Division denied Evangelista&#x27;s Motion to Quash and her motion to hold in abeyance the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.The prosecution pointed out that FTI paid BMC a downpayment of P66.5 million representing 50 percent of the contract cost, a violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.Evangelista argued against the validity of the charges against her since the graft charge does not constitute an offense.She also questioned the Office of the Ombudsman&#x27;s probable cause finding.The Special Sixth Division dismissed Evangelista&#x27;s claim that she was not involved in the Letter of Agreement between FTI and Bonena.&quot;The accusation centers on her alleged irregular exercise of the authority granted her under the MOA to identify and approve the supplier of onions and her alleged conspiracy with the other accused to procure onions from a person or entity without capability to deliver under the contract,&quot; the anti-graft court said.&quot;There is also no merit in Evangelista&#x27;s contention that the Office of the Ombudsman&#x27;s resolution and the records show that her role was limited to the identification of farmer-supplier in onions,&quot; it added.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/5/pcc-files-raps-vs-12-onion-traders-over-cartel-behavior-1110">PCC files raps vs 12 onion traders over &#x27;cartel behavior&#x27;</a></div>In 2023, the Ombudsman dismissed Evangelista and other officials for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.On the falsification charges, Evangelista argued that the prosecution only stated there was conspiracy or falsification, which did “not show how the crime was executed.”The prosecution responded that the allegations in the information were enough for Evangelista to know the nature of the crime, with which the anti-graft court agreed.The Special Sixth Division said the motion to hold in abeyance the issuance of a warrant for her arrest was moot since the court “already issued a warrant for her arrest and she already posted cash bonds.”The anti-graft court also denied Evangelista&#x27;s motion for leave to admit reply.&quot;Under the Court&#x27;s internal rules, a reply ‘shall not be allowed.’ Although she asked for leave to admit her reply, Evangelist did not provide compelling reasons why her reply should be admitted,&quot; it said.FTI Vice President for Operations John Gabriel Trinidad III, warehouse supervisor Benedict Libres and warehouse staff Marlon Pagsisihan also face the same charges.Private defendants from Bonena include Reguyal, drivers Jocelyn Jane, Rossul Batadhay, Romy Jimeno, Charlito Ylanan, Francisco Laplana III, Arnold Osorio, Angelo Lajom, Randy Santos, Erickson Cortez, Ruben Bautista, Vince Lorenzo, Windell Canaan, and AJ Balama.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/19/p50-million-worth-of-smuggled-onions-agri-products-from-china-seized-1446">P50 million worth of smuggled onions, agri products seized</a></div>When asked for comment, Evangelista said she will consult with her lawyer first.<div>&quot;Tayo po ay nalulungkot sa naging desisyon ng Sandiganbayan bagamat iginagalang natin ang kanilang pasya. At dahil tayo po naman ay malinis ang konsensya at taas noo tayong makakaharap kaninoman na hindi tayo nagnakaw o naging corrupt bagkus, ginawa lang natin ang ating tungkuling matulungan ang mga magsasaka  at ang ating mamimili naman, na mapagaan ang kanilang pamumuhay, naniniwala po tayo na lalabas din ang katotohan na wala tayong nilabag na batas,&quot; Evangelista said.  &quot;Maybe its just a matter of time. Habang aking pinagdadaanan ang pagsubok na ito, I remind myself of a verse : Fight a good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith,&quot; she added. </div><div> </div>

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the validity and sufficiency of the graft and falsification charges against dismissed Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista over the controversial onion deal.

The Sandiganbayan has upheld the validity and sufficiency of the graft and falsification charges against dismissed Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista over the controversial onion deal.

Sandiganbayan affirms graft, falsification charges against ex-agri official over P133-M onion deal

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Sandiganbayan affirms graft, falsification charges against ex-agri official over P133-M onion deal

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 06, 2024 03:20 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 06, 2024 04:07 PM PHT

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