More lawmakers may face raps over fertilizer fund scam

More congressmen are likely to be implicated in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam allegedly perpetrated by former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante.

According to Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr., the panel investigating the fund scam is currently looking into the involvement of some 140 congressmen in the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program of the Department of Agriculture.

“There are forthcoming complaints against more congressmen in the fertilizer fund cases. But these would not affect our ongoing preliminary investigation on five initial complaints involving four former and incumbent representatives since each case can stand on its own,” De Jesus said.

He explained the cases undergoing preliminary investigation that have implicated Quezon City Rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza, Marinduque Rep. Carmencita Reyes, former Malabon-Navotas representative Federico “Ricky” Sandoval II and former congressman and now Lipa City Mayor Oscar Gozos were only the first batch of transactions completed by the panel Task Force Abono.

De Jesus said the current complaints being reported to the public cover only 40 of a total of 181 transactions related to the fertilizer project.

“This means that there are at least 141 more transactions being investigated by Task Force Abono. And once they find ample evidence to pursue a case in any of these, a complaint would be filed before the Ombudsman for preliminary investigation.”

De Jesus said this would mean the filing of separate complaints.

De Jesus also clarified Task Force Abono does not have any deadline to finish its investigation.

“Because we don’t want them to work under pressure since what we’re searching for here is the truth,” he said.

Several congressmen and local leaders reportedly received grants from Bolante to purchase fertilizers under the GMA program.

Bolante admitted a total of 159 members of the House of Representatives and local officials received their share of the fertilizer fund.

Bolante was charged with misusing the fund to allegedly finance the campaign of President Arroyo in the 2004 elections.

Bolante reiterated his testimony in the Senate that President Arroyo had no knowledge of the release and use of the P728 million.

He repeated his assertion that “there was no fertilizer scam” despite the findings of the Commission on Audit that there was “excessive overpricing” of the liquid fertilizer purchased by Bolante’s proponents.

Apart from Bolante, four former and incumbent congressmen, other respondents in the initial criminal complaints include former agriculture assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit and 13 other officials and employees. All of them also denied taking part in any anomalous transaction related to the fertilizer project.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals (CA) allowed Bolante’s petition of habeas corpus and directed the Senate to present the former agriculture official and explain the circumstances of his arrest.

Bolante was taken into custody by the Senate following his arrival from the US on Oct. 28.

When the scam broke out two years ago, Bolante fled to the US and sought asylum, but his petition was denied by the US courts and he was eventually deported.

Upon his arrival, the Senate effected the warrant on Bolante, initially holding him under hospital arrest.

The CA also directed Owen Vincent Bolante, the petitioner in behalf of his father, to file his reply on the comment made by Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia’s seeking the dismissal of the petition. – With Sandy Araneta