Ex-Benguet mayor faces raps for fertilizer scam

BAKUN, Benguet -- The Office of the Ombudsman Wednesday announced the filing of graft charges against a former municipal mayor of this town for his alleged involvement in the 2004 fertilizer fund scam.

Ombudsman ConchitaCarpio-Morales directed the filing of charges against former Bakun mayor BartolomeSacla Sr. over the purchase of P1.9 million worth of fertilizers.

Former municipal treasurer Manuel Bagayao, municipal accountant Virginia Kigisan and Dolly Villaflor of BryCin Enterprises (BCE)  – the company that supplied the fertilizers – also face  indictment before the Sandiganbayan.

Investigation showed the municipality of Bakun received P1.95 million from the Department of Agriculture as part of the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program. 

The local government used the money to buy 1,300 bottles of Nutro Ocean fertilizers.

The Commission on Audit (COA) said no public bidding was conducted, adding the fertilizers were overpriced by P1.74 million.

The fertilizers were substandard and not registered with the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority, COA added.

The ombudsman said the public respondents acted with partiality and “gross inexcusable negligence” in the procurement of the fertilizers, and gave unwarranted benefit, advantage and preference to BCE.