Fertilizer fund scam: Nun slams decision to clear Gloria Arroyo of graft

By: Jocelyn R. Uy - 10 years ago

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. AP FILE PHOTO

Activist nun Sr. Mary John Mananzan of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines on Friday assailed the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision clearing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of graft in connection with the fertilizer fund scam.

“After all what has been divulged and with all the sufferings of the farmers involved, how can anyone think that GMA had no knowledge of it?” said Mananzan in a text message to reporters on Friday.

But Mananzan said she was no longer surprised with the decision since the Office of the Ombudsman has been dispensing similar rulings involving other cases recently.

“I have ceased to understand the logic of the Ombudsman, from the reviving of Jun Lozada’s case even if he is the government’s witness in the NBN-ZTE deal, her finding no cause in the cases of the generals sued by (Army Col. George) Rabusa,” said the nun.

“But this clearing of GMA in the fertilizer scam is truly disgusting,” she added.

The Ombudsman on Thursday junked the graft case against Arroyo, now Pampanga representative, for lack of “factual and legal basis,” noting that the complaint failed to show proof that she had authorized the release of fertilizer funds that were allegedly diverted to her 2004 presidential campaign.