Trader in fertilizer anomaly arraigned; pleads not guilty

A MAN tagged in fertilizer anomaly pleaded not guilty in his arraignment before the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Records from the RTC Branch 10 showed that businessman Edgar Calledo, through his counsel Edwaldo Legaspina, denied the charges filed against him on August 31.

Calledo is 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.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) panel found that the chemicals urea, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulphate and muriate of potash were mixed with the fertilizers aside from magnesium sulphate monohydrate, an industrial salt.

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

Also charged were Limuel Derder, Rene Tingal, Eugenio Suan, Antonio Anto, Janjan Sungay, Rodencio Sungay and Allan Boligao, former workers of Warehouse No. 57950.

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.