Iloilo exec dismissed over fertilizer scam

MANILA, Philippines — A municipal treasurer in Iloilo was dismissed from her post in connection with the fertilizer fund scam.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III yesterday said he implemented the dismissal order recently issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Ma. Asuncion Isabel Gargalicano of Guimbal town after she was found guilty of grave misconduct.

The ombudsman also ordered Gargalicano’s perpetual disqualification from holding public office, the cancellation of her eligibility and forfeiture of her retirement benefits.

Graft probers said Gargalicano connived with former mayor Oscar Garin Jr. and other municipal employees in the anomalous procurement of liquid organic fertilizers from Feshan Philippines Inc. amounting to P3 million.

Investigation showed no public bidding was conducted and the fertilizer was overpriced by P1,500 per bottle.

Former Sorsogon governor Raul Lee is so far the highest local government official convicted over the fertilizer scam. He was sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison last August.

The Department of Finance said the ombudsman suspended three other officials for various violations.

Onofre Natividad, municipal treasurer of South Upi in Maguindanao, was suspended for three months for failing to remit the Pag-IBIG and Government Service Insurance System contributions as well as witholding tax of local government employees from January to December 2007.

Eduardo Pagulayan Jr., Bureau of Internal Revenue-Ilocos acting director, was suspended for one month for failing to reinstate Marina de Guzman as regional director.

The Court of Appeals reversed an ombudsman ruling dismissing De Guzman in May last year.

Meanwhile, Jacinto Villaviray, security guard at the Bureau of Customs, was also suspended for three months by the Civil Service Commission for failing to file his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth for 2014.