Ombudsman orders filing of charges vs Jocjoc, Lorenzo

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of graft charges against former Agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo and former undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

A report by dzMM radio said that aside from Lorenzo and Bolante, the Ombudsman's office also recommended the filing of charges against former Quezon City congresswoman Nanette Daza and 33 incumbent and former government officials over the fertilizer fund scam.

Plunder charges were also recommended against former Agriculture assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit, Joselito Flordeliza , Jaime Eonzon Paule, Maritess Aytona, Jose Barredo, Leonica Marco-LLarena and Marilyn Araos.

The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of charges of malversation of public funds against several regional directors of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Meanwhile, complaints against DA Assistant Secretary Belinda Gonzales, Emma Gonzales and a private respondent were dismissed due to insufficiency of evidence.

The order came six years after the scam was exposed and investigated by the Senate in 2005. The fertilizer fund was allegedly used by the past administration to lure local officials into supporting the presidential bid of former President Gloria Arroyo in 2004.

The Ombudsman earlier filed two graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against incumbent Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee, accountant Raul Hernandez and provincial treasurer Ofelia Velasco.

The Ombudsman said that the accused caused undue injury to the government by approving the purchase of 2,133 liters of Bio Nature Liquid Fertilizer from Feshan Philippines Inc. in 2004. The provincial government purchased the fertilizer at P1,500 per liter against prevailing market price of only P180/L.

Graft investigators said the purchase was accomplished through two separate transactions involving payment for 133 liters of liquid fertilizer on May 6, 2004 for P189,525 and another 2,000 liters for P3 million on June 28, 2004.

The Ombudsman noted that Lee favored Feshan as the sole distributor of the fertilizers when in fact the “mode of procurement through exclusive distributorship is not appropriate.”

The Ombudsman said that the deficient documentary requirement for the purchases ensued irregularity that can only be attributed to respondents who all took part in the release of payments in favor of Feshan.