Ex-DA execs charged over fertilizer scam

Four former officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Davao have been charged with graft for their alleged involvement in the fertilizer scam.

In a complaint filed on Aug. 25, former DA regional director Roger Chio, technical director Romulo Palcon, accountant Mariflor Garcia and finance division chief Alma Mahinay were charged with two counts each of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a similar complaint against Eleazar Duclayan and Melvin Malig, president and representative, respectively, of private firm Farmate International Technologies Inc.

The ombudsman said the accused conspired to award the contract for the supply of at least P2 million worth of liquid fertilizer to Farmate in 2004.

Anti-graft investigator and prosecution officer Alteza Añoso said no public bidding was conducted for the project.

The respondents allegedly resorted to direct contracting without valid reason and did not conduct a survey of the prices of similar kinds of fertilizer available in the market.

The ombudsman said the respondents failed to show proof that the bottles of fertilizer were distributed to the beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, in a separate complaint filed with the Sandiganbayan on the same day, Chio, Palcon and Mahinay were also charged with two counts each of graft in connection with the allegedly anomalous purchase of multimedia equipment and computer units.

Aside from the three, the ombudsman charged former DA regional administrative officer Godofreo Ramos and former engineering division chief Onofre Nugal for alleged involvement in the project.

Assistant special prosecutor Jorge Espinal said the respondents purchased 80 units of multimedia equipment and 80 computer sets from PZA Trading for P8 million in December 2005.

The ombudsman said the respondents did not comply with the required procedures like pre-procurement or prebid conference before conducting the bidding.

Anti-graft probers said the respondents also failed to publish an invitation to bid as required under the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Bail of P30,000 each has been recommended for the temporarty liberty of the accused.