Lawmakers unaware of Ombudsman's fertilizer probe

MANILA, Philippines - Incumbent and former congressmen expressed surprise yesterday over reports that they are under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman for possible complicity in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004.

Former Speaker Prospero Nograles, Representatives Erico Aumentado of Bohol and Danilo Suarez of Quezon, and former congressman and now Gov. Abraham Mitra of Palawan said they were not aware of any investigation being conducted by the Ombudsman.

In text messages to The STAR, they said the office of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has not informed them about the supposed inquiry nor asked them whether they received fertilizer funds or where they used the money.

“Didn’t get any (communication) from them,” Nograles said.

He said what his district office in Davao City received from regional officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) was fertilizer and not cash.

“We had video footage of the distribution of fertilizers six months after the (May 2004) elections. All video and documents are still kept and ready just in case,” he said.

Mitra said he was surprised to read in the newspapers that he is one of those covered by the Ombudsman’s investigation.

“I have not received any letter from them up to now. I had no knowledge about the DA fertilizer distribution project. Perhaps they implemented it in my district, but I had no hand in it,” he said.

Like Nograles and Mitra, Aumentado expressed surprise over the Ombudsman’s probe.

“I did not receive even a single centavo from the alleged fertilizer scam,” Aumentado said.

However, he said the office of the provincial agriculturist received fertilizer from DA regional officials, which he added was distributed to farmers.

In the case of Suarez, it was his wife Aleta, a congresswoman in 2004, who was among those who had supposedly received fertilizer funds.

He said his wife is not aware of the Ombudsman’s investigation.

“Before the 2004 elections, we were informed that there was some assistance from the DA for farmers. We asked for irrigation pumps and certified seeds, and that was what they delivered. It was DA that purchased them,” he said.

For his part, Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said he did not receive fertilizer funds when he was governor of his province in 2004.

He said it was the office of the provincial agriculturist that implemented the DA’s fertilizer distribution project.

“I had no hand in it and I did not benefit from it financially,” he said.

He also expressed surprise over the Ombudsman’s supposed investigation of public officials whom former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante allocated fertilizer funds to.

“I did not receive any letter from them about this,” he added. 

Government auditors had discovered that liquid fertilizer bought with the P728-million fund was overpriced by as much as 1,400 percent. For instance, a bottle costing P150 was purchased for P1,500 or an overprice of P1,350.

The supposed investigation of incumbent and former lawmakers is contained in the resolution signed last April 15 for Gutierrez by overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro. 

The resolution recommends criminal charges against former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., former undersecretary Bolante, former assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit Jr., two former lawmakers, two former governors, nine DA regional directors, and several fertilizer suppliers and agents

However, the resolution states, “a separate investigation is still being conducted against named proponents (of fertilizer funds).”

“These proponents are elected public officials who were congressmen, governors or mayors,” it said.

The Ombudsman’s office said Bolante and Poliquit listed 181 public officials (105 House members, 52 governors, one vice governor, and 23 town mayors) as “proponents” of fertilizer funds.

Sen. Lito Lapid, who was Pampanga governor in May 2004, is covered by the Ombudsman’s supposed “separate investigation.” He was among the 52 governors who had supposedly received fertilizer funds.

Also covered are allies of President Aquino like Governors Joey Salceda of Albay and Alfonso Umali of Mindoro Oriental, and former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta, who all belong to the ruling Liberal Party.

Another former House member under investigation is Zenaida Ducut of Pampanga’s second district, which is now represented by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Ducut, an Arroyo appointee, chairs the Energy Regulatory Commission. 

Lapid, meanwhile, warned the Office of the Ombudsman against using his alleged involvement in the fertilizer fund scam to influence his decision as a judge in the coming impeachment trial of Ombudsman Gutierrez.

“I don’t want to think that this has something to do with the impeachment trial of Ombudsman Gutierrez where I will sit as one of the senator-judges,” Lapid said.

He said he welcomed the investigation but denied that there had been funds misused in his province.

Lapid pointed out that the funds had been properly liquidated in accordance with the law and as clearly indicated in the records of the provincial government. He said even the Commission on Audit has released no adverse findings regarding the transaction.

Lapid and Lakas-Kampi president Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. are the only senators openly allied with the former president. – With Marvin Sy