WHAT WENT BEFORE

In June last year, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales signed the resolution for the filing of graft charges against Sen. Lito Lapid in connection with the overpricing of 3,880 liters of liquid fertilizer bought by the provincial government of Pampanga in 2004 when he was governor of the province.

A month later, Lapid asked the Office of the Ombudsman to reconsider the decision recommending the filing of the graft case against him.

The fertilizer fund controversy, which involved the diversion of P728 million in agricultural funds to the 2004 presidential campaign of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was exposed in March 2004 by then presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson accused Arroyo of “virtual vote-buying” for allowing the release of funds to favored officials to buy farm inputs like fertilizer and pesticide for their constituents.

He questioned the timing of the release of funds and claimed that some of the districts on the list of recipients did not even have farmlands.

Taking his cue from Lacson’s accusations, lawyer Frank Chavez (now deceased) filed plunder charges against Arroyo while naming Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, then the agriculture undersecretary, one of those who signed the papers for the release and disposition of the funds.

The Senate then conducted an inquiry, which began in the 13th Congress and continued in the 14th Congress.

In February 2009, the Senate blue ribbon committee concluded its investigation of the scam. The committee recommended the prosecution of Bolante and nine others, describing them as a “pack of wolves.”

However, in May last year, the Ombudsman dismissed for lack of evidence the graft complaint against Arroyo in connection with the scam.

In August 2014, the Sandiganbayan, for its part, found no probable cause to charge Bolante and former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo with plunder over the fertilizer fund scam.

In its decision, the antigraft court said government prosecutors had failed to present evidence showing probable cause to proceed with the trial of Bolante et al. and for the court to issue warrants for their arrest.

It said the prosecution did not submit evidence proving that the accused public officials indeed benefited and received at least P50 million from the transactions involving the fertilizer funds.

Several other local government officials also face charges for their alleged involvement in the fertilizer fund scam. They include Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, former Camarines Norte Gov. Jesus Typoco Jr., former Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho, former Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares Jr., former Butuan City Mayor Leonides Theresa Plaza and former Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, Mayor Percianita Racho. Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives