Lacson: Document shows Bolante pull with DA, DBM

MANILA, Philippines — Not only did former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc" Bolante have much leeway in choosing the proponents in a P728-million fertilizer scam, but he also had enough pull to have the funds released without the required work and financial plans. This was shown in a document produced by opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson at a hearing into the P728-million fertilizer fund mess. "Super-extraordinarily malakas si Mr. Bolante para mag-submit ng list lang, di malinaw kung proponents pwede palitan pero na-release ng P728 million (Bolante must have really strong pull to P728 million for the program released without the needed work and finance plans. That's not counting the power to change the list of proponents)," Lacson said at the hearing. "Walang work and financial plan when you released the SARO. Among 105 proponents ni isa walang attached work and financial plan to justify the release of P728 million (You secured the special allotment release order for the P728 million yet there was no attached work or financial plan for any of the 105 proponents to justify the release of the funds)," he added. He said even congressmen could not get their hands on the funds if they have not submitted the needed plans. Lacson said the memorandum from Bolante dated April 27, 2004 was for then assistant secretary Belinda Gonzales, amending the list of proponents for the Farm Inputs Farm Implements program. It sought the amendment of the list of proponents under the program, including taking P3 million from the first district of Quezon and giving P2 million to the first district of Davao Oriental and P1 million to Dasol town in Pangasinan. Another amendment sought to channel P500,000 from the fourth district of Pampanga to Dasol, according to the document. "’Di ba ang pagbago ng list ng proponents pag-implement na yan, di lang may kinalaman sa pondo? Instruction mo ito kay Usec Gonzales (Is this not having leeway in the implementation? This was your instruction to Undersecretary Gonzales)," Lacson said. Bolante claimed his office prepared the list of implementers and not proponents, but later admitted that regional directors of the agriculture department have no authority to modify the list. "Regional directors have no authority to modify, it is my office that must modify the proponents," he said. On the other hand, Commission on Audit (COA)'s Flerida Jimenez said she saw no such work and financial plans from the 105 proponents in the P728-million mess. "No," she said when Lacson asked her if she saw the plans. "You did not see it because there was none?" Lacson asked. "Yes," Jimenez replied. "Regarding the proponent they should have submitted the proposal, not the work and financial plan," Jimenez added. - GMANews.TV