Palace raring to prosecute personalities behind ‘P10B agri fund misuse’

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is raring to make accountable the individuals and groups believed to have made a killing out of the alleged misuse of the P10-billion Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund that was meant to help farmers and fisherfolk.

“If there’s corruption, certainly we are eager to know who profited from that scam,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an early afternoon news briefing on Thursday.

Asked if the alleged agricultural funds misuse was one of so-called landmines — instances of corruption allegedly committed by the past Arroyo administration in the government agencies—that the administration was developing cases from, Lacierda said, “I don’t know if this was discussed between President Aquino and (Agriculture) Secretary (Proceso) Alcala.”

Lacierda said he has not spoken with Alcala on how high up in the Arroyo administration the alleged scam went.

“It’s good that this came out because it involves P10 billion,” Lacierda said.