Probe of fertilizer scam pushed
By Jaime Pilapil
The Office of the Ombudsman has to begin looking into the P728 million fertilizer scam and determine who should be held liable for the irregular use of public funds.
Two progressive groups, the Lakas ng Magsasakang Pilipino (LMP) and Aksyon Sambayanan (AkSa) said yesterday that the panel created by Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to probe the fertilizer scam should not drag its feet.
“The Ombudsman should not protect the officials being linked to the scam by ignoring the overwhelming evidence presented by the Commission on Audit (COA),” Ali Asis, LMP president, said.
AkSa Spokesperson Jorge Azuelo pointed out that it is the ombudsman’s job to go after grafters in government. “Delaying the probe would only trigger speculation of a coverup.”
COA auditors have confirmed that the fertilizer purchased under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) was overpriced by P127 million.
Te anomaly was noted in the fertilizer allocation for nongovernment organizations.
Of the P728 million allotted for the GMA program, P643 million were allocated to the regional field units of the DA. The fertilizers purchased under the program were to have been distributed to farmers.
COA auditors also unearthed other irregularities such as inconsistencies in bidding and purchase documents and nonexistent liquidation reports.
In all, the auditors said government officials involved in the distribution of the fund may have pocketed at least P48 million.
A witness earlier said four congressmen who received the fertilizer fund got 30 percent kickbacks from their allocation. One of them even demanded a 70 percent “commission.”
COA report said over 100 congressmen, 53 governors and 26 mayors received fertilizer allocations.
“The sheer immensity of the anomaly should propel the ombudsman to take action at once,” Asis said.
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