The following news article from GMA News attracted my attention, after I heard in TV GMA News,a few minutes ago, a list of four names of congress representatives and other government and private individuals, that had been charged for illegal use of funds in connection with this fertilizer scandal. This is one of the biggest scam and scandal in The Arroyo administration. One of the names in the list is our former Congresswoman and now Marinduque Governor Carmencita Reyes. There are other famous names in the list, so my feeling that all politicians are crooks are indeed reinforced by this news. I realized that these politicians spent a lot of money to be elected ( buying votes). So one of the easiest way of getting their money back is to get involved with scandals. Here's the news for your reading displeasure. Shame!Shame! to all you politicians. I hope your conscience will bother you till the end of your days!
"MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a complaint against public officials allegedly involved in the multimillion-peso fertilizer fund scandal.
The agency’s Task Force Abono (fertilizer) charged Quezon City Rep. Nanette C. Daza (4th district), Marinduque Rep. Carmencita O. Reyes, former Malabon-Navotas Rep. Federico S. Sandoval II and former Batangas Rep. Oscar L. Gozos for illegal fund use.
In a press conference, Assistant Ombudsman Jose T. de Jesus, Jr. said the fact-finding committee found sufficient evidence that of the P728-million budget for farm inputs/implements program, P14 million was spent for farm implements not included in the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani rice program.
In addition, the Commission on Audit (CoA) found out cheaper items that were then available from other suppliers. Mr. de Jesus said this constitutes technical malversation.
The purchases did not undergo bidding under the Government Procurement Reform Act, which, Mr. de Jesus said, constitutes technical malversation.
Other respondents were Agriculture officials Dennis B. Araullo, Balagtas J. Torres, Juvylee C. Obice, Rodolfo M. Guieb, Marie Paz Jasmine C. Cabucol, Raymundo E. Braganza, Abelardo Bragas, Felix Ramos, Ofelia Montilla and Gregorio Sangalang.
Private respondents included officials from the LCV Design and Fabrication Corp., namely, Linus C. Villanueva, Remus C. Villanueva, Phydias B. Bañez, Fernando F. Gallarte and Frederico B. Quevedo.
Similar complaints have been served for former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" I. Bolante, former Agriculture secretary Luis P. Lorenzo and incumbent Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap.
The investigation stemmed from allegations that Mr. Bolante diverted funds for the Agriculture department’s rice program to allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to ensure her election in 2004 presidential elections.
House probe
Meanwhile, the House committee on agriculture issued invitations to Mr. Bolante, Budget Secretary Rolando G. Andaya, former Budget secretary Emilia T. Boncodin, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Secretary-General Danilo Ramos, CoA Chairman Reynaldo A. Villar and Agriculture Undersecretary for finance Belinda A. Gonzales to attend Wednesday’s hearing on the fertilizer fund case".
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TAGALOG VERSION OF THE LATEST NEWS -FERTILIZER SCANDAL
Here's the Filipino news version published July 11, 2010 in the GMA News.
MANILA – Kasamang ipatatawag ng Office of the Ombudsman si dating Agriculture Sec. Luis “Cito" Lorenzo sa mga personalidad na kasangkot sa umano’y maanomalyang paggamit ng pondong inilaan na pambili ng pataba sa lupa.
Isinama si Lorenzo sa Supplemental Complaint Affidavit na isinumite ng Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (OMB-FIO) nitong Biyernes.
Kasama ni Lorenzo si dating DA Undersecretary Jocelyn ‘Joc-joc’ Bolante sa inakusahang lumabag sa Art 217 ng RPC (Malversation of Public Funds or Property) at Sec 3(e) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act). Akusado rin sina Belinda at Emma Gonzales dahil sa paglabag naman sa Art 220 ng RPC (Technical Malversation) at Sec 3 (e) and (g) ng RA 3019.
Ang iba pang alegasyon kay Bolante ay paglabag sa Art 171 ng RPC( Falsification by Public Officer); Bolante, Assistant Secretary Ibarra Poliquit, Undersecretary Belinda Gonzales, Regional Directors Reinerio Belarmino Jr., Gumersindo Lasam, Cesar Rodriguez, Dennis Araullo, Ricardo Oblena, Leo Caneda, Oscar Parawan, Roger Chio, Sumail Sekak and Eduardo Lecciones, Jr. sa paglabag sa Sec 3(a) ng RA 3019; Bolante, Jaime Leonzon Paule, Marilyn Araos, Joselito Flordeliza, Marites Aytona at Jose Barredo sa paglabag sa Sec. 3(b) ng RA 3019.
Bukod pa rito ang kaso kina Bolante, Leonicia Marco-LLarena, Deonilla Misola-Gregorio at Redentor Antolin dahil sa paglabag sa Sec 3 (e) ng RA 3019; at Belinda Gonzales, Belarmino, Lasam, Rodriguez, Araullo, Oblena, Caneda, Parawan, Chio, Sekak, at Lecciones sa paglabag sa Paragraphs A.2 (Neglect of Duty), A.3 (Grave Misconduct) at C.3 (Reasonable Office Rules and Regulations), Sec. 52 ng Resolution No. 991936 na, “Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service."
Ang alegasyon laban kay Lorenzo ay bunga ng kapabayaan umano nito na ipagkatiwala lahat kay Bolante ang paggamit sa pondo. Lumitaw na naghanda umano si Bolante ng listahan ng mga bibigyan ng pondo ngunit walang listahan ng farming zones.
Sumabit din sa kaso ang mga regional director dahil sinunod nila si Bolante at mayroong mga pinaborang supplier.
Sinasabing ginamit ang bahagi ng P728-milyong fertilizer fund sa kampanya ni dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nang tumakbo itong presidente at nanalo noong 2004 elections.
Mula sa pagsasampa ng reklamo na itatala sa Central Records Division (CRD), ipagpapatuloy ang imbestigasyon ng Preliminary Investigation Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office (PAMO). Maghahanda naman ang PAMO ng pinagsamang Supplemental Complaint na isusumite sa Special Panel na magsasagawa rin ng preliminary investigation at administrative adjudication.
Batay sa naunang reklamo na inihain ng Task Force Abono ng OMB-FIO, ang mga kinasuhan ng Technical Malversation, Violation of Sec. 3(e) at (g) ng RA 3019, at Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service sa ilalim ng Section 46, Chapter 7, Title I, Book V of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987) ay sina Carmencita Reyes, Araullo, Balagtas Torres, Juvylee Obice, Rodolfo Guieb, Mari Paz Jazmine Cabucol, Raymundo Braganza, Abelardo Bragas, Felix Ramos, Ofelia Montilla at Gregorio Sangalang.
Sina Nanette Daza, Federico Sandoval II, at Oscar Gozos ay kinasuhan ng Technical Malversation, at Violation of Sec. 3(e) at (g) of RA 3019. Samantalang ang mga private respondent na sina Linus at Remus Villanueva; Phydias Bañez; Fernando Gallarte; at Frederico Quevedo ay isinakdal sa Violation of Sec 3 (e) at (g) ng RA 3019.
Sina Bolante at Poliquit ay kinasuhan din ng Technical Malversation at Violation of Sec 3(e) of RA 3019. May hiwalay na kaso rin kay Poliquit na Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.
Halos tapos na ang preliminary investigation ng Special Panel na nagsisiyasat sa fertilizer fund mess nang isumite ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na pinamunuan ni dating Sen. Richard Gordon ang kanilang ulat.
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