Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17864246291361786415222324602.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Sandiganbayan trial of the graft case against former NABCOR president Alan Javellana and other executives. ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA — Witnesses testified on Tuesday that ice-making machines worth P455 million purchased by the abolished National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) broke down shortly after installation and were left unused.The testimonies were presented during the Sandiganbayan trial of the graft case against former NABCOR president Alan Javellana, who remains at large, former Financial Services Director Rhodora Mendoza, former accounting assistant Maria Ninez Guañizo, and other NABCOR officials.The prosecution alleged that the project, which was intended to provide post-harvest facilities for fish, vegetables and fruits, was improperly implemented and awarded to suppliers that were not qualified.They further claimed that around P455 million of the project’s P500 million budget was used to procure ice-making machines for 98 beneficiaries, who allegedly were not properly informed about the equipment before its delivery from 2010 to 2013.Municipal agriculturist Jo Ann Gonzales of San Jose, Dinagat Islands, testified that one of the machines was delivered to the San Jose public market in October 2011.Gonzales said she was present when the supplier delivered and installed the machine. It operated for only about a week before its compressor broke down, she said.During cross-examination, Gonzales acknowledged that she had no specialized or technical training on the machine and was not directly responsible for its daily operation.Gonzales said she contacted NABCOR and the supplier to request repairs and spare parts. However, she said records on the equipment were destroyed by Typhoon Odette in December 2021.She said the supplier promised to inspect the machine after she called but never returned.Another witness, Charles Capricho, president of the Pambansang Alyansa ng mga Mangingisda at Pamunuan ng Organisasyon Inc., testified about a separate machine delivered to Tiwi, Albay, in 2010.Capricho said the machine was delivered to a university that served as his federation’s partner institution and a hub for fishermen. It was later installed on the university campus but stopped working soon after, he said.Capricho said the federation went to NABCOR’s central office to verbally report the problem.The case was filed in 2025 following a Commission on Audit report that flagged problems with the machines’ inverters and compressors, according to the prosecution. It also alleged that 23 machines were left idle at the Food Terminal Inc. facility in Taguig.<div>RELATED STORIES:</div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/10/benhur-luy-s-records-admitted-as-evidence-in-graft-case-vs-napoles-ex-rep-valdez-1439">Benhur Luy’s records admitted as evidence in graft case vs Napoles, ex-Rep. Valdez</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/5/ombudsman-urges-sandiganbayan-to-reverse-revilla-bail-ruling-1628">Ombudsman urges Sandiganbayan to reverse Revilla bail ruling</a> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/3/sandigan-denies-bid-to-drop-bonoan-graft-raps-1300">Sandiganbayan denies Ombudsman’s bid to drop Bonoan from graft case</a></div>

Witnesses testified on Tuesday that ice-making machines worth P455 million purchased by the abolished National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) broke down shortly after installation and were left unused.

Witnesses testified on Tuesday that ice-making machines worth P455 million purchased by the abolished National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) broke down shortly after installation and were left unused.

Witnesses testify on alleged problems with P455-M ice-making machines in ex-NABCOR execs’ graft trial

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Witnesses testify on alleged problems with P455-M ice-making machines in ex-NABCOR execs’ graft trial

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 11, 2026 01:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

NABCOR

ice making

Javellana

fishermen

graft

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