IN MARCH 2004, Sen. Panfilo Lacson exposed the alleged diversion of P728 million in fertilizer funds to help the 2004 presidential campaign of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Lacson, who was then running against Arroyo in the presidential election that year, accused Arroyo of “virtual vote-buying” by authorizing the release of funds to favored officials to buy farm inputs like fertilizer and pesticide for their constituents.
The late Frank Chavez, a former solicitor general and anticorruption campaigner, picked up Lacson’s accusations, and independently filed a plunder case against Arroyo. Chavez named Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante one of those who signed the papers for the release and disposition of the funds.
In October 2005, the Senate blue ribbon committee called for an inquiry, with Bolante—who had resigned from his post in September 2004—as the main witness.
In his testimony, Bolante cleared Arroyo of liability, saying the “implementation of the P728-million farm input-farm implement program was approved by [the budget department] without the President’s approval.”
In October 2008, a special panel from the Office of the Ombudsman was convened to conduct preliminary investigation into the case.
In February 2009, the Senate committee concluded its investigation of the scam and recommended the prosecution of its alleged mastermind, Bolante, and nine others.
In July 2010, the Ombudsman announced the results of its investigation and recommended that Bolante and former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo be indicted for graft and malversation along with 22 others.
In June 2011, acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro ordered the filing of charges against Bolante, Lorenzo and former Assistant Agriculture Secretary Ibarra Poliquit for their alleged involvement in the said scam.
In May last year, the Ombudsman dismissed the graft complaint against Arroyo, saying that allegations of her criminal liability “lack any factual or legal basis.”
Source: Inquirer Archives