Ex-Cebu mayor indicted for graft

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the indictment for graft of former Mayor Celestino Martinez III of Bogo, Cebu, in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam during the Arroyo administration.

Also charged for violation of Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, was ex-municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez.

In its investigation, the Ombudsman said the municipal government of Bogo received P6 million from the Department of Agriculture in May 2004 for the acquisition of fertilizer.

The allocation came from the P728 million in total funds which the agriculture department released for its “Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program” which allegedly went to the pockets of erring public officials.

In a statement, the Ombudsman said Martinez and Minguez entered into a memorandum of agreement with Sikap Yaman, a nongovernment organization based in Quezo City, without determining the project cost and the period for the project implementation.

“In order to process the payment to (Sikap Yaman), Martinez and Minguez issued undated and unnumbered disbursement vouchers and allotment and obligation slips,” it said.

“The transaction was consummated despite the nonaccreditation of Sikap Yaman as required under Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 96-003,” the Ombudsman said.