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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Joc-joc exonerated Sandigan clears Bolante in fertilizer fund scam’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – An erstwhile Capiz province gubernatorial bet and native of Dao town has been cleared of plunder charges in connection with the P723-million fertilizer fund scam during the Arroyo administration.
State prosecutors failed to provide evidence implicating former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante in plunder activities, the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division said in a decision promulgated Nov. 28 but made public Dec. 12.
Bolante allegedly pocketed P265.642 million from the P723-million fertilizer fund released under the Farm Input Farm Implement Program (FIFIP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 2004.
Sandiganbayan did not put weight on the testimony of whistleblower Jose Barredo, saying it was inadequate to prove Bolante’s involvement. Nevertheless, Barredo was admitted as prosecution witness.
“All that is essentially stated by Barredo is the modus operandi of the scam, the persons who were offered, or had received, and how the ‘SOP’ (standard operating procedure) or commissions were distributed,” the anti-graft court said.
“The personalities mentioned by Barredo as the recipients of the ‘SOP’ are either local officials who had fund allotments from the DA or DA regional directors, and none of them are even charged in this case as coconspirators of Bolante,” read part of the decision.
“Bolante was the central key player in the case. There was no proof that he acquired ill-gotten wealth from the scam,” it read. “No material representation, other than the release of the funds, could be shown attributable to accused Bolante.”
Also cleared were former Agriculture secretary Luis Ramon Lorenzo Jr., former DA assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit, and Jaime Paule, Marilyn Araos, Joselito Flordeliza, Marites Aytona, Jose Barredo, and Leonicia Marco-Llarena.
The fertilizer fund scam started gaining attention in 2004 when the Senate investigated the alleged vote-buying of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo using fertilizer funds.
After the investigation by the Senate and another by the Ombudsman, a plunder case was filed in 2011. In the national and local elections a year before, Bolante ran for Capiz governor but lost to Victor Tanco Sr.
The Ombudsman investigation noted that Bolante conspired with Lorenzo and Poliquit in illegally acquiring public funds after purchasing overpriced liquid fertilizers from P150 per liter to P1,500.
On Aug. 15, 2014 Sandiganbayan issued a resolution stating the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence that Bolante may be tried for plunder.
The Ombudsman filed an amended charge sheet on Dec. 22, 2014 that included additional evidence. The Sandiganbayan accepted the amended charge sheet in July this year./PN
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