‘Bribe’ mars Ifugao fertilizer fund works

By Jeremy M. Gawongna

LAGAWE, Ifugao – The controversial fertilizer fund was properly implemented in Ifugao despite a bribe attempt on Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr. to favor a supplier.

“While it is a scam sa taas, the fertilizer fund in 2004 was properly implemented here in Ifugao,” said provincial accountant Francis Biwit on the P5 million share of Ifugao from the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program of the Department of Agriculture that year.

Biwit said as far as documents were concerned, honesty, clarity and transparency prevailed.

Provincial agriculture, environment, and natural resources officer Raymundo Bahatan said immediately after the May 11 election in 2004, P3.25 million in cheque was transferred by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office directly to the provincial government and the requirement was to liquidate it first before the release of the remaining P1.75 million.

“There was an initial bidding during the term of Governor Baguilat by the bids and awards vommittee but it failed so transactions did not push through,” Bahatan said.

Bahatan and Biwit said rebidding took place upon the assumption of then Gov. Benjamin Cappleman and after the implementation and the amount was well-liquidated.

Baguilat, whose name was included in the list of officials who received the P728 million from the said program published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated Nov, 13, 2008, said he lost the election in 2004 and it was the next administration which purchased the fertilizers and distributed these the farmers.

Baguilat said during the campaign period of 2004, a middleman who had the blessings of the DA asked him to manipulate the bidding so that their supplier would win and they will deliver the fertilizers.

In exchange, according to him, they will give P1 million to be used as campaign fund.

“It was two weeks before the election and we were already running low on funds but I rejected
what I was instructed to do because it would make the fertilizer fund an anomalous and corrupt transaction,” Baguilat said.

“Standing by my firm belief that a public official must adhere to the principle of transparency and ethical leadership, we rejected the scam even if it cost us the election by a slim margin. The kickback could have been used by us during that final week but we rejected it. We feel vindicated though because the people elected us in 2007,” Baguilat added.

Baguilat is a member of Kaya Natin Movement, a movement of politicians espousing good governance and ethical leadership.