Then Tuburan Mayor Rose Marie Suezo with former congressman Pablo John Garcia during a press conference at the Capitol in this 2008 file photo.
Two former mayors and 18 persons from three localities in the Visayas will face trial at the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the 2004 fertilizer fund scam.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales issued three separate resolutions on the indictment of the respondents on charges of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The case stemmed from the alleged anomalous use of P291.2 million in fertilizer funds intended for Farm Inputs and Implements Program.
The amount forms their share of the P728-million fertilizer fund that was reportedly diverted to then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s campaign kitty to pay off favored local officials.
The funds were released to the Department of Agriculture three months before the 2004 elections.
Serious dishonesty
To be charged before the anti-graft court are former mayor Rose Marie Suezo of Tuburan town, northwest Cebu; municipal accountant Virgilia Undag; municipal agricultural officer Victoria Verano; Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Nicodemus Montecillo Jr.; BAC members Chito Armecin and Elsa Yosalina; and Marc Gulle, a representative of Sikap-Yaman Foundation.
Also indicted by the Ombudsman were former mayor Mariano Malones of Maasin town in Iloilo; municipal accountant Cecilio Montefrio; accountant Jimmy Borra; and Jose Barredo Jr., a representative of Feshan Philippines Inc.
Others charged were Jeremias Ban, former barangay chairman of a village in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental; barangay kagawads Danilo Lamason, Raymund Vincent Besa, Manuel Tancinco, Nile Nelson Arroz, Adelino Plansa, and Jonalyn Lauron; city accountant Efren Dela Rosa; and Jose Barredo of Feshan Philippines Inc.
Aside from facing criminal charges, Undag, Verano, Montecillo, Armecin, Yosalina, Lauron and dela Rosa were also ordered dismissed from service after they were found guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Based on the Ombudsman’s investigation, former Mayor Suezo approved the purchase of 250 bottles or liters of Foliar Fertilizers sold at P1,000 each by Sikay-Yaman Foundation in an unnumbered and undated Purchase Request.
Members of the municipal BAC recommended the fertilizers be acquired through “shopping.” On February 8, 2005, Gulle of Sikap Yaman Foundation delivered the 250 bottles of Fil-Ocean liquid fertilizer.
The payment of P250,000 was issued by the town on the same day. In an Audit Observation Memorandum, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the procurement was overpriced by as much as 426 percent since the average price in the market was only P180 per bottle.
No certification was issued by the BAC authorizing the conduct of a “shopping” method as the alternative mode of procurement.
The supplier also did not present any license or authority to sell.