Man in fertilizer anomaly asks bail reduction

A MAN tagged in fertilizer anomaly appealed before the court to reduce his bail after the Department of Justice (DOJ) amended the information of cases filed against them.

Records from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 showed that Edgar Calledo, through his counsel Edwaldo Legaspina, asked the court to reduce the recommended P640,000 bail by 50 percent.

The bail was recommended by DOJ assistant state prosecutor Mari Elvira B. Herrera, prosecutors Cesar Angelo Chaveza and Mark Roland Estefa.

Court record showed chemicals urea, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulphate and muriate of potash were also mixed with the fertilizers aside from magnesium sulphate monohydrate, an industrial salt.

The DOJ panel added that Calledo is now facing four counts of each of the four charges of violation of Section 168 in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act 8293 (Unfair Competition); violation of Section 9, Paragraph A of PD 1144; violation of Section 8, Paragraph D (Adulteration); and paragraph F (Mislabeling) of Presidential Decree 1144, otherwise known as Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Act.

A copy of the motion read that Calledo also wanted the court to release the P160,000 bail earlier posted as he will use the amount for new bail required under the amended information.

Calledo is the owner of Warehouse No. 57950 located inside the Davao Century Compound City in Ma-a.

In an order, RTC Branch 10 acting presiding judge Loida Kahulugan directed the prosecution to comment on the motion filed by respondent Calledo.

Meanwhile, Limuel Derder, Rene Tingal, Eugenio Suan, Antonio Anto, Janjan Sungay, Rodencio Sungay and Allan Boligao now stand accused of eight charges after the DOJ added the four chemicals to the two violations charged against them.

The seven men are former workers of Warehouse No. 57950 located inside the Davao Century Compound City in Ma-a.

They were charged with violation of Section 8, Paragraph D (Adulteration) and F (Mislabeling) of Presidential Decree 1144, otherwise known as Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Act, before the RTC Branch 10.

The respondents were arrested for adding and mixing fertilizers with magnesium sulphate monohydrate (an industrial salt) on March 29.

Elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group implemented the search warrant and arrested the eight accused. (ANC)