Lito Lapid indicted for graft over fertilizer scam

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday announced that it has found probable cause to indict Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid, former governor of Pampanga, for graft charges over the fertilizer fund scam.

To be charged with Lapid for violation of Section 3 (e) in relation to Section 3(g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act are Provincial Accountant Benjamin Yuzon and Provincial Treasurer Vergel Yabut.

Maria Victoria Aquino-Abubakar and Leolita Aquino, incorporators of Malayan Pacific Trading Corp., and Dexter Alexander Vasquez, proprietor of D.A. Vazquez Macro-Micro Fertilizer Resources, were also tagged in the case.

The Ombudsman's team of investigators said Lapid, as governor, was responsible for the purchasing P4.76 million worth of liquid fertilizer, which were 1,000 percent overpriced, in May 2004.

Lapid, Yuzon and Yabut "entered into a transaction that (was) grossly and manifestly disadvantageous…because the Government paid P4,761,818.18 (P4,850,000.00 less net of tax of P88,181.82) without ensuring that the government benefits from the best products/services available from the market at the best price," the Ombudsman's resolution states.

No bidding was conducted for the project and the transaction was made speedily, the panel said.