Fisherfolk group fears dismissal of plunder case vs GMA

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines – The fisherfolk group that filed a plunder case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the purchase of overpriced ice-making machines fears that the complaint could be junked by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) suspects the Aquino government has brokered a deal with Arroyo’s camp, noting the Ombudsman’s recent dismissal of the graft case against Arroyo in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

“The reversal of cases filed against Mrs. Arroyo seems to reflect exchange deals and political accommodation between the camp of President Aquino and the former president,” the group said.

“This could yet deliver the ax on the P455-million plunder case on the procurement of overpriced ice-making machines,” it added.

On Jan. 8, 2010, Pamalakaya filed the plunder case against Arroyo, then Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap, officials of the National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR), and members of the Bids and Awards Committee of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in connection with the allegedly overpriced purchase of 98 ice-making machines costing P455 million.

Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France said that on July 19, 2011 the group received a letter from the office of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala informing the group about the status of the delivery of ice-making machines.

Alcala informed Fernando Hicap, chair of Pamalakaya and representative of Anakpawis party-list, that 56 of the 98 ice-making machines were already delivered on site while several units were en route.

He said one ice-making machine was delivered in Dagupan City; two in Sanchez Mira in Cagayan and Basco, Batanes; six in the provinces of Aurora, Tarlac, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija; four in Occidental and Oriental Mindoro; nine in Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate and Albay; six in Negros Occidental, Antique and Iloilo; two in Cebu and Bohol; five in Leyte, Samar and Biliran; five in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zambo Sibugay; six in Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Lanao del Norte; two in Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte; three in Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat; two in Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte; and one in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Alcala said the delivery of the remaining 35 units would be completed on or before October 2011, while eight more units were being re-evaluated.

He also said that NABCOR had already submitted its report on the status of the ice-making machine project.

Pamalakaya is now counterchecking developments following reports that not all were delivered.  – With Michelle Zoleta