Ex-Ifugao town mayor, 5 others face graft raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against a former mayor of an Ifugao town and five others in connection with an alleged anomalous procurement of fertilizers 10 years ago.

Charged before the Sandiganbayan were former Hingyon municipal mayor Alex Kindipan, treasurer Henry Gano and accountant Maria Nilda Deloy; businesswomen Dolly Villaflor and Lucia Diola, both of Bry Cin Enterprises, and Suzette Recto of Jozeth Trading.

The respondents were charged with graft for allegedly violating the Government Procurement Reform Act, the ombudsman said yesterday.

Investigation showed the municipal government received funds amounting to P3.2 million for the purchase of farm inputs under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program in 2004.

Kindipan and Gano allegedly approved the purchase of 2,166 bottles of fertilizer that cost P1,500 each from the  two trading firms.

The Commission on Audit found out that there was no public bidding for the project and the fertilizer was overpriced by P1,350 per bottle.