ShareThisQUEZON CITY– The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating Sen. Manuelo Lapid and 11 incumbent members of the House of Representatives in connection with the P728-million fertilizer scam in 2004.
Sen. Lapid
Another senator, Juan Miguel Zubiri, was earlier investigated but eventually cleared. Zubiri was Bukidnon congressman at that time of the alleged scam.
The congressmen under investigation are Reps. Florencio Miraflores of Aklan, Rogelio Espina of Biliran, Erico Aumentado of Bohol, Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Norte, Antonio Kho of Masbate, George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental, Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon, Orlando Fua Sr. of Siquijor, Napoleon Dy of Isabela, Renato Unico Jr. of Camarines Norte, and Augusto Syjuco Jr. of Iloilo.
Principal accused in the case filed by the Ombudsman with the Sandiganbayan were former agriculture secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante who are being urged to turn state witness in the case.
More than 60 former House members are covered by the supposed “separate investigation” of the Ombudsman to include at least 20 who are related to incumbent congressmen, as husbands, wives, brothers, or sisters.
They also include allies of President Aquino like Albay Governor Joey Salceda and Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali and former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta, who all belong to the ruling Liberal Party.
Another former House member under investigation is Zenaida Ducut, who now heads the Energy Regulatory Commission.
According to DA records of former assistant secretary for operations Ibarra Poliquit Jr., Lapid and the 11 congressmen, except for Unico and Dy, were allocated P5 million each in fertilizer money.
Unico was alloted P3 million, while Dy was supposed to have received P2 million.
Lapid and the 11 congressmen, except for Unico, Syjuco and Dy, were governors of their provinces at the time Bolante and Poliquit listed them as fertilizer fund proponents-recipients.
In the case of Unico and Syjuco, they were House members then, while Dy was mayor of Alicia town in Isabela.
Five other incumbent House members who served as governors were also named as “proponents” in Bolante’s list and were allocated P5 million each.
They are Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin, Teodoro Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao, Victor Francisco Ortega of La Union, Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, and Loreto Leo Ocampos of Misamis Occidental.