Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division acquitted garlic traders accused of conspiring with former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in an <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/02/16/23/onion-cartel-also-seen-in-2014-garlic-price-spike-solon">alleged cartel that supposedly manipulated garlic prices </a>in 2014.</p><p>The anti-graft court, chaired by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, said the prosecution failed to prove the traders’ guilt beyond reasonable doubt.</p><p>The traders acquitted included Lilia Cruz, Rolando Manangan, Prudencio Ruedas, Ma. Jackielou Ilagan, Jon Dino De Veyra, Napoleon De Vera Baldueza, Jose Ollegue, Gaudioso Diato, Denia Matabang, Raffy Torres, Mary Grace Sebastian, Orestes Salon, Jose Angulo Jr., Laila Matabang, Edmond Caguinguin, Rolan Galvez and Renato Francisco.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/02/16/23/onion-cartel-also-seen-in-2014-garlic-price-spike-solon">Alleged onion cartel may also be behind soaring garlic prices in 2014, says solon </a></div><p>The court ordered the release of their cash bonds and the lifting of the hold departure orders issued against them.</p><p>The prosecution accused the group of participating in a scheme to control garlic import permits through the creation of the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) a body composed of representatives from the public and private sectors involved in garlic trading and production.</p><p>Garlic trader Cruz was appointed chairperson of the group. Prosecutors alleged that her position allowed her group, the Vendors Association of the Philippines Inc. (VIEVA), to secure most of the import permits.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/08/08/17/anti-trust-body-probes-alleged-garlic-cartel">Anti-trust body probes alleged garlic cartel </a></div><p>However, the court noted in a previous resolution that the creation of the NGAT, by itself, did not show manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.</p><p>The court earlier granted Alcala’s demurrer to evidence, which dismissed the graft case against him.</p><p>Meanwhile, the cases against Rochelle Diaz, Luben Marasigan, Shiela Mary Dela Cruz and Angelita Flores, who remain at large, were archived.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/08/02/17/cartel-price-fixing-fight-gets-boost-as-anti-trust-law-takes-effect">Cartel, price-fixing fight gets boost as anti-trust law takes effect </a> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong><strong> </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/znGFSEtV11g?&amp;pp=0gcJCRoMAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/feXXsobuH_s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TS54AneOX9U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division acquitted garlic traders accused of conspiring with former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in an alleged cartel that supposedly manipulated garlic prices in 2014.</p>

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division acquitted garlic traders accused of conspiring with former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in an alleged cartel that supposedly manipulated garlic prices in 2014.

Ex-DA chief’s co-accused traders acquitted in graft case over alleged garlic cartel

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Ex-DA chief’s co-accused traders acquitted in graft case over alleged garlic cartel

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 01, 2026 10:59 AM PHT

Read More:

graft

garlic cartel

manipulation

prices

DA

Agriculture

Alcala

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