Ex-Palawan solon faces graft raps over fertilizer scam

MANILA — The Office of Ombudsman has indicted a former Palawan congressman for his alleged involvement in the anomalous disbursement of P3 million from the Farm Inputs and Farm Implement Program in 2004.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the filing of malversation and graft charges against ex-Palawan Representative Abraham Khalil Mitra.

Aside from Mitra, also charged were Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit (DA-RFU) officials — executive director Dennis Araullo, regional technical directors Gregorio Sangalang and Balagtas Torres, legislative coordinator Lucille Odejar and regional accountant Raymundo Braganza.

Representatives of the GabayMasa Development Foundation (GabayMasa), as project implementor — Margie Tajon Luz, Concha Idica, Ma. Christina Viscarra, Caridad Tajon, Melencio Punzalan and Rodolfo Luz - were also indicted.

Records showed that in a letter dated Feb. 20, 2004, Mitra endorsed GabayMasa as cooperating non-government organization (NGO) to implement the P3 million fund allocation intended for the second district of Palawan.

In March 2004, the DA-RFU and Mitra entered into a memorandum of agreement for the project. In April 2004, two checks totaling P3 million were issued to GabayMasa.

The Commission on Audit (COA) validation report disclosed that GabayMasa is not an accredited cooperative and has no existing track record with respect to the implementation of agricultural projects in the countryside.

No liquidation reports were also produced to show how the funds were utilized, the COA report said.

In the related administrative case, the Ombudsman dismissed Araullo, Sangalang, Torres, Odejar and Braganza from the service for grave misconduct, with their eligibility canceled, and retirement benefits forfeited. (Philippine STAR

News Service)