DA's Alcala faces another plunder charge

MANILA, Philippines - Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya on Monday said it may file another plunder case against Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala and other officials for the transfer of P200 million worth of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus non-government organizations identified with businesswoman Janet Napoles.

"We will discuss with our legal counsel about our plans to file plunder and other appropriate charges against Secretary Alcala and the rest of the pack involved in this another high crime of corruption with the National Agriculture and Fishery Council," Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France in a press statement.

"Something decisively must be done to stop this perpetual raid of taxpayers' money by President Noynoy Aquino, Secretary Alcala and associates and definitely it would go beyond the filing of cases before any appropriate court," France added.

Pamalakaya said the P200-million PDAF transferred to National Agriculture and Fishery Council is another case of ghost delivery at the DA, which is similar to the case of 98 ice-making machines in 2009.

The ice-making machines which were not only overpriced by P225 million based on industry standards, but were also not delivered, the group said.

In January 2010, Pamalakaya filed a plunder case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former agriculture secretary Arthur Yap and officials of National Agribusiness Council or Nabcor over the P455-million ice-making scam.

"NAFC aside from the National Agribusiness Council or Nabcor has become a major conduit for corruption related to pork barrel," Pamalakaya said.NAFC aside from the National Agribusiness Council or Nabcor has become a major conduit for corruption related to pork barrel," Pamalakaya said.