Sandiganbayan OKs withdrawal of Ombudsman case vs DTI exec

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division granted the Office of the Ombudsman’s motion to withdraw the falsification of public documents case against a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) assistant secretary.

READ: Lawyer charged after name used for fake docs; NBI nabs suspect

The move came after state prosecutors admitted there was insufficient evidence that the accused’s actions “resulted in actual damage or injury to the government.”

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In a resolution promulgated on July 13, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division said it granted the motion to withdraw the case information against Domingo Razon Tolentino Jr.

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“The Court Resolves to grant the prosecution’s Motion to Withdraw Information,” the court said in the five-page resolution.

READ: 2 ex-Ombudsman officials acquitted

On June 4, 2018, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a case against Tolentino for allegedly having a hand in falsifying an import certificate of Joferds Trading and Rebuilding Center, which caused “damage and prejudice to the government,” according to the case information.

The case information said the firm applied for the Certificates of Authority to Import (CAI) only on May 18, 2018, but the accused allegedly made it appear that the CAI was filed with and received by Tolentino’s office on May 25, 2018.

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However, the Ombudsman’s resolution dated Nov. 26, 2025, said: “the records are bereft of evidence demonstrating that respondent’s actions resulted in actual damage or injury to the government.”

In view of this, the Sixth Division said: “the withdrawal of the present Information is warranted.”

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The Sixth Division also said that the case information “should have been filed with the Regional Trial Court in a judicial region other than where the accused holds office.”

The hold departure order and the bond against Tolentino have also been lifted.

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Meanwhile, Tolentino’s motion to quash has been rendered moot due to the withdrawal of the case information. /mcm