Lorenzo, others face graft raps

Former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr.: Facing graft charge. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. and past officials of the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor) have been charged with graft in the Sandiganbayan for the alleged anomalous implementation of the Quedancor Swine Program, a credit program meant to support swine raisers in the country.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the filing of the charges against the accused last Friday after the Office of the Ombudsman, in a resolution dated July 12, 2013, found probable cause to indict the former officials of Quedancor and of Metro Livestock Inc., the program’s implementing agency, for graft.

Based on the Ombudsman’s investigation, Metro Livestock Inc. did not deliver to the hog raisers supplies worth at least P47 million. The program provides swine growers with supplies as support instead of cash.

Also charged were former Quedancor president and CEO Nelson Buenaflor, and board members Wilfredo Domo-Ong, Romeo Lanciola, Nellie Ilas and Jesus Simon.

The Senate in the past conducted an inquiry into the program after then Sen. Panfilo Lacson exposed the alleged anomaly.

In the information, the Ombudsman raised the lack of a public bidding when Metro Livestock Inc. was chosen to implement the program, which resulted in “damages” to the government because Quedancor “lacked recourse against the suppliers for late deliveries and nondeliveries.”

It said that a public bidding would have required the supplier to post a performance bond or contractor’s surety bond.

The Ombudsman said Metro Livestock was “ineligible” because “it failed to comply with accreditation and eligibility requirements such as two years of prior operation, and the necessary license from the appropriate government agency like the Livestock Development Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry.”—Cynthia D. Balana