Ex-Sulu officials face graft raps over fertilizer fund scam

A former lawmaker and a former mayor of a municipality of Sulu have been charged with multiple counts of graft at the Sandiganbayan over their alleged roles in the fertilizer fund scam.

Prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman filed three counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against former Sulu Representative Hussin Amin and former mayor of Hadji Panglima Tahil municipality in Sulu Nedra Burahan at the Sandiganbayan.

Then-Department of Agriculture Region 9 officials Oscar Parawan, Ma. Perlice Socorro Julian, and Commission on Audit auditor Abduljamar Ingui also face the same charges.

Former supervising agriculturist Samuel Simbajon and chief administrative officer Abundio Bernardo face two counts and one count of graft, respectively.

In 2004, P5 million worth of public funds were disbursed for the DA’s distribution of farm inputs and farm implements for the residents of the 1st District of Sulu. The funds were released in three tranches in the months of April (P3.25 million), May (P700,000), and December (P1.05 million).

The anomalous scheme started when Amin, Burahan and Parawan signed a memorandum of agreement for the procurement of farm implements for the former lawmaker's constituents.

The prosecution said the accused DA officials facilitated and approved the disbursement of funds "without reviewing the work and financial plan of the project contrary to the provisions of the MOA."

Burahan then forged a contract with Sunny Marketing Supplies for the implementation of the DA project without a public bidding.

Sunny Marketing Supplies was also not required to submit progress reports and proof of project implementation to concerned agencies, according to the Ombudsman.

Ingui, meanwhile, supposedly concealed the fictitious transactions when the audit for the funds was conducted without proper liquidation.

A total bail bond of P90,000 has been recommended for Amin, Burahan, Parawan, Julian and Ingui.

The total bail for Simbajon is pegged at P60,000 while Bernardo will need to post P30,000 for his provisional liberty. —KG, GMA News