Whistleblower links Napoles to fertilizer fund scam

Embattled businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles had anomalous transactions not only with various lawmakers but also with government officials involved in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, her former employee said Friday.

At the continuation of the hearing of Napoles' bail petition before the Sandiganbayan, whistleblower Merlina Suñas confirmed that one of the companies of Napoles, Jo Chris Trading, as well as three of her fake foundations, had transactions between 2003 to 2004 with the officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local officials in various provinces concerning the implementation of the fertilizer project of the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Suñas was testifying against Napoles at the Third Division in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam, where billions in pesos from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of several lawmakers were allegedly diverted to bogus non-government organizations for kickbacks.

"Do you have any knowledge if Napoles or any of her companies had transactions with other government officials aside from those pertaining to the lawmakers' PDAF?" Third Division member Associate Justice Alex Quiros inquired.

"Yes, your honor...Yung Jo Chris Trading po ni Madame may transaction kay Usec Jocjoc Bolante," Suñas replied.

Bolante, a former Agriculture undersecretary, was among the DA officials accused of conniving to divert at least P728 million worth of fertilizer funds supposedly for poor farmers to Arroyo’s campaign kitty in the 2004 national elections.

Suñas said that aside from Bolante, Napoles was personally talking with "other personalities" and local officials concerning the fertilizer project.

"Yung mga foundations po ang mga conduit pero ang nakikipag-usap sa mga personalities si Madame Napoles," Suñas told the court.

"Pero hindi ko po alam ang pangalan ng mga tao na kausap niya," Suñas, however, added.

The three allegedly fake foundations Suñas identified to have been used by Napoles as "conduits" to the fertilizer scam were People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc (POPDFI), Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. (PSDFI) and Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. (MAMFI).

Suñas recounted that Napoles started her fertilizer business in 2002.

"Noon po, kumuha lang siya ng fertilizer products na ginagawa sa Nueva Ecija ng ALR Trading," she said.

Suñas described the ALR Trading as the marketing arm of Jo Chris Trading.

Suñas said that in 2006, Napoles began imitating the fertilizer product of ALR Trading, including the brand label, "EC Fertilizer."

"Pati po yung label at sukat na 300 ml pinagaya niya sa pinsan niya at sinimulan na po i-distribute sa Region 1," Suñas said.

She said that in 2010, Napoles started manufacturing her own brand of fertilizer and other agricultural products.

The Second Division of Sandiganbayan had earlier ruled that the evidence for plunder filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against Bolante in relation to the scam was "insufficient."

But instead of outrightly dismissing the case, the Sandiganbayan has ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to submit within 60 days additional evidence to boost its plunder case against Bolante.

Also in May last year, the Office of the Ombudsman junked the graft complaint filed against Arroyo in relation to the fertilizer scam "for lack of evidence." —KBK, GMA News