In the Know: Ophelia Agawin, ‘conduit’ of Napoles NGOs

Screengrab from COA Report

MANILA, Philippines—Ophelia Agawin, appointed by President Aquino in February 2012 as assistant secretary in the Department of Agriculture, has been identified by pork barrel scam whistle-blowers as a conduit of a web of fake nongovernment organizations (NGOs) controlled by Janet Lim-Napoles.

Agawin went on leave in October last year in the midst of the brewing scandal, but she said this had nothing to do with her going on vacation, that she had to take care of a sick parent.

From 2006 to 2010, Agawin was a treasurer and director of state-owned ZNAC Rubber Estate Corp. (ZREC).

Based on a Commission on Audit report, ZREC was used as a conduit for the release of P282 million in pork barrel funds of Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr., former Apec Rep. Edgar Valdez and former Buhay Rep. Rene Velarde.

In his September 2013 affidavit to the NBI, whistle-blower Benhur Luy said that Agawin received 10 percent in commissions from the pork barrel funds that went through ZREC.

Last year, the President approved the termination of ZREC, National Agribusiness Corp., Human Settlements Development Corp., Philippine Forest Corp., and Cottage Industry Technology Center.

Agawin was among the officials charged in connection with the alleged P432-million fertilizer fund scam engineered by then Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante in 2003.

Agawin was then the agriculture department’s chief accountant when the complaint was filed in the Office of the Ombudsman by Marlene Garcia-Esperat, who then worked at the department’s Central Mindanao office. Esperat was shot dead inside her house on the night of Maundy Thursday in 2004. The case against Agawin was dismissed for insufficient evidence.—Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives

RELATED STORIES

2 Nabcor officials bare pressure from DA exec

Agriculture official named by Benhur Luy back on the job