Camille Naredo

The Department of Agriculture's main building in Quezon City. 

The Department of Agriculture's main building in Quezon City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Department of Agriculture

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Two former officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) were convicted by the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday for graft over their alleged involvement in the P3.9 million fertilizer fund scam.The Sandiganbayan’s Special Sixth Division found former DA Regional Technical Director Joel Rudinas and former DA accountant Claudia Artazo guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the irregular procurement of more than 6,000 bottles of liquid fertilizer for Camiguin in 2004. The case involves the agriculture department’s transaction with People&#x27;s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation, Inc. (POPDFI), managed by detained businesswoman Janet Napoles, for liquid fertilizer priced at P800 per liter. This was far above the P165 market rate, which resulted in P3.9 million in government losses.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/11/19/ex-iloilo-mayor-2-others-found-guilty-over-fertilizer-fund-scam">Ex-Iloilo mayor, 2 others found guilty over fertilizer fund scam</a></div>“They should be convicted as charged involving the procurement of 6,250 bottles of liquid fertilizers because the procurement did not go through public bidding as required by law and were overpriced, which therefore justify the finding that the accused were guilty of manifest partiality and gross inexcusable negligence that gave POPDFI unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference,” the decision penned by Associate Justice Kevin Vivero read.The agency’s failure to conduct a public bidding for the procurement constituted a violation of R.A. No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.In his defense, Rudinas said they were merely following the instructions of the late Regional Executive Director Rufo Chan Jr. He also alleged that his signatures that appeared on the documents for the release of the allocation disbursement were “made in honest discharge of his duties with no intent to violate any law or rule on procurement.”“Per accused Rudinas, no public bidding was undertaken as advised by RED Chan and who further instructed him adopt any alternative methods of procurement in order to expedite the process,” it read. He further insisted that he was merely tasked to inform about the transfer of funds from DA&#x27;s Central Office to the late Camiguin Province Governor Pedro Romualdo and POPDFI and to direct the latter to submit the required documents as the chosen conduit for the fertilizer program.The same defense was raised by Artazo, who claimed that her signatures were made in good faith and in the discharge of her duty.However, the court said it cannot give weight to the “lame assertions.” It ruled that both officials should have questioned Romualdo’s instruction and possessed the basic knowledge of public bidding requirements. “Rudinas and Artazo should have promptly questioned such highly irregular instruction. Thus, contrary to their posturing, both accused were clearly partial to, and highly favorable of, the interest of POPDFI. In addition, they were likewise remiss in their duty when they failed to exercise diligence in ensuring compliance with the basic requirements demanded by existing procurement laws,” the decision read.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/24/8-dpwh-mimaropa-officials-tagged-in-flood-control-mess-turned-over-to-sandiganbayan-1231">8 DPWH Mimaropa officials tagged in flood control mess appear before Sandiganbayan</a></div>The anti-graft court sentenced Rudinas and Artazo to six years and one month to eight years in prison and perpetually disqualified them from holding public office. It also held Rudinas and Artazo civilly liable for the improper implementation of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) agricultural program of the Arroyo administration and ordered them to jointly pay P3.9 million and 6% yearly interest.

Two former officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) were convicted by the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday for graft over their alleged involvement in the P3.9 million fertilizer fund scam.

Two former officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) were convicted by the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday for graft over their alleged involvement in the P3.9 million fertilizer fund scam.

Sandiganbayan convicts 2 ex-DA execs in P3.9 million fertilizer fund scam

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Sandiganbayan convicts 2 ex-DA execs in P3.9 million fertilizer fund scam

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 27, 2025 12:21 AM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Rudina

Artazo

DA

agriculture

fertilizer

graft

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