The Office of the Ombudsman has brought the P723-million fertilizer fund scam case against former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante to the Supreme Court after the Sandiganbayan refused to hold a trial for lack of probable cause. READ: Court denies gov’t appeal on dismissed Bolante caseADVERTISEMENTThe petition sought the revival of the case at the Sandiganbayan and the issuance of warrants of arrest against the respondents. The petition stated that the Sandiganbayan erred by prematurely applying the threshold of prima facie evidence to the case, which is higher than probable cause. Probable cause, meanwhile, requires less than evidence that would justify a conviction. Available testimonies and documents, as well as the cooperation of alleged runner-turned-state witness Jose Barredo Jr., should be enough to establish the existence of probable cause, the prosecution stressed.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 23, 2017 03:45 UTC