Fertilizer scam prober eyed for asst. Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines—The former Assistant Ombudsman who handled the investigation of the P728-million fertilizer fund scam is one of the six nominees to the position of Overall Deputy Ombudsman.

Lawyer Melchor Arthur Carandang, currently a consultant with the Office of the Ombudsman, and the five other nominees will be subjected to public interviews by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on July 31.

The current Overall Deputy Ombudsman, Orlando Casimiro, is set to retire on Aug. 23.

The other nominees to the position are: lawyer Rudiger Falcis II, officer in charge at the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices; Undersecretary Ronaldo Geron of the Discipline Office under the Office of the President; Ferdinand Rafanan, Commission on Elections planning department director; George Soriano, chair of Quezon City’s People’s Law Enforcement Board; and private practitioner Vernard Quijano of the Pamaran Ramos & Partners Law Office.

In 2006, Carandang headed the “Task Force Abono,” which conducted the fact-finding investigation concerning the alleged misuse of government funds in the purchase of overpriced liquid fertilizer. Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., who implicated Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante in the scam, turned over the documents on the irregularities to Carandang.

Later, various farmers’ groups filed cases against those involved in the scam.

The task force recommended criminal and administrative charges against Bolante and several others in 2007 but Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez only approved the charges in 2011.

The JBC said candidates with incomplete or out-of-date documentary requirements shall neither be interviewed nor considered for nomination.

The public may submit to the JBC a sworn complaint, report or opposition against any of the candidates not later than July 22.

The JBC shall come out with a list of three nominees to the position.