Plunder raps vs Bolante, Lorenzo to push through

Manila, Philippines - Junking their motions for reconsideration, the Office of the Ombudsman upheld the filing of plunder charges yesterday against former agriculture secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and former undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante before the Sandiganbayan.

Both will face trial for their alleged involvement in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam of 2004 along with former assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit and other former officials of the Department of Agriculture.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro also denied the motions for reconsideration filed by other respondents, like former congresswoman Nanette Castelo-Daza, former Marinduque governor Carmencita Reyes and former Catanduanes governor Leandro Verceles Jr., who were ordered charged with graft.

He ordered the filing of additional malversation of public funds charges against regional directors Cesar Rodriguez, Dennis Araullo, Ricardo Oblena, Leo Caneda, Oscar Parawan, Roger Chio, Sumail Sekak and Eduardo Lecciones Jr.

Casimiro further ordered the dismissal from service of Poliquit, Oblena, Araullo, Caneda, Parawan, Rodolfo Guieb, Balagtas Torres, Abelardo Bragas, Felix Ramos, Ofelia Montilla and Gregorio Sangalang, all of the DA; and Rodolfo Malinana, Ireneo del Rosario, Roger Pitajen, and Herbert Evangelista Sr., all Catanduanes officials.

The Office of the Ombudsman had earlier ordered the filing of plunder and graft charges against Lorenzo, Bolante, and other government officials tagged in the fertilizer fund anomaly.

However, filing of some of the cases were put on hold to allow the respondents a chance to explain. With the denial of their respective appeals, the Office of the Ombudsman said the filing of criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan will proceed.

Bolante is accused of masterminding the scam while Lorenzo is charged of allegedly allowing Bolante to misuse government finances by giving him a free hand in the handling of the fertilizer funds.