Respondents in fertilizer fund scam want dismissal of charges

Manila, Philippines - Two former lawmakers and other former government officials linked to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam will ask the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the cases against them.

Former lawmakers Federico Sandoval and Nanette Castelo-Daza of Quezon City; former Lipa City mayor Oscar Gozos and Department of Agriculture regional director Dennis Araullo said yesterday they intend to question the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to file criminal charges against them.

They plan to file a motion for reconsideration or ask for a re-investigation of the case, they added.

The four also intend to move for a judicial determination of probable cause to see if there is indeed reason to try them in court.

However, Sandoval, Castelo-Daza, Gozos, and Araullo want the cases against them consolidated since they were charged with graft at the First Division and technical malversation of public funds before the Third Division.

In a hearing today, the Sandiganbayan is expected to order the Office of the Special Prosecutor to comment on the motions filed by the respondents.

Castelo-Daza, along with former lawmaker Carmencita Reyes and former Catanduanes governor Leonardo Verceles Jr., posted bail after the cases against them were raffled off to different court divisions last week.

For their temporary liberty, they paid amounts ranging from P30,000 to P60,000.

The former lawmakers and government officials were charged with graft and technical malversation after they were identified as beneficiaries or recipients of fertilizer funds more than six years ago.

The Office of the Ombudsman said a huge part of the total funds allocated for the Department of Agriculture project in the amount of P56.64 million remain unaccounted for.

Former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante is accused of masterminding the scam.

Former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo supposedly gave him authority over a huge amount of government money.

The anti-graft agency ordered the filing of plunder charges against them and several other individuals.

However, the cases have not been filed because of their motions for reconsideration.