Pinagwalang sala ng Sandiganbayan si dating San Andres Mayor Fernald G. Rovillos kasama ang anim na iba pa sa kasong graft na isinampa sa kanila ng Ombudsman.
Kasama ni Rovillos na pinawalang sala sina Municipal Accountant Melinda D. Gaac, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Mary Claire B. Mortel, bids and awards committee (BAC) Chairman and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Chairman Caezar P. Valiente, BAC members Gay G. Tan and Genny Rose M. Vergara, at si Reynaldo Perlas, the proprietor of Perlas Seed Growers.
Nag-ugat ang kasong ito matapos hindi umano dumaan sa public bidding ang pagbili sa 10,000 Bitaog Seedlings na nagkakahalaga ng P550,000 na ginamit umano sa tree planting activity noong June 2014.
““While red flags hovering over the Bitaog procurement are certainly observable, it cannot be said by this Court that the alternate certification issued by the Provincial Agriculturist is not sufficient compliance to the requirement that no other dealers/retailers of Bitaog seedlings exist or that a suitable substitute can be obtained at more advantageous terms to the government,” ayon sa rulling ng Sandiganbayan.
Ang nasabing desisyon ay sinulat ni Second Division Chairperson Oscar C. Herrera Jr. kasama sina Associate Justices Michael Frederick L. Musngi and Bayani H. Jacinto.
