Friday, November 14, 2008 Piñol admits receiving P5M from fertilizer fund
NORTH Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol admitted receiving P5 million from the controversial fertilizer fund released by the Department of Agriculture in 2004.
In a statement issued Thursday, the former governor outlined how their province received the P5 million but denied insinuations that he was part of the fertilizer fund scam allegedly orchestrated by former DA undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante.
"Over the last few days, I received messages of concern from friends who saw my name as among those who received from the Department of Agriculture in 2004 P5 million from out of the controversial P728 million fertilizer fund in my capacity as governor of North Cotabato in from 1998 to 2007. The impression is that since North Cotabato received P5 million from out of the so-called scam, I was also a party to the misuse of funds intended for our agricultural support programs," Piñol said.
Here's how North Cotabato got hold of the P5 million, as narrated by Piñol in the same statement:
1. The province of North Cotabato, just like other local government units with agricultural programs, received P5 million from DA coming from the questioned P728 million fertilizer fund which was reportedly managed by Bolante.
2. Contrary to reports that the fund was used for political purposes, the P5 million was given by DA Southern Mindanao to the province of North Cotabato in two releases after the May 2004 elections. The first amount of P3.5 million was received by the Provincial Treasurer on June 10, 2004 while the second release of P1.5 million was made on Nov. 9, 2004.
DA actually advised the province before the elections of 2004 that the amount was ready for withdrawal provincial officials were busy with the campaign to work on the release of the funds.
Looking back, the province’s failure to claim the money before the elections was providential because now officials can comfortably say that they did not use the money for political purposes since it was claimed well after the elections. (If it is of any significance, President Arroyo and Vice President de Castro lost in North Cotabato.)
3. After the release of the funds and observing proper bidding and procurement process, the following disbursements were made:
a. July 14, 2004 (Asian Hybrid Tech) -- P568,550 (For 367 bags of yellow corn seeds)
b. August 5, 2004 (Kidapawan Agri Supply) -- P2.680 million (For 1,000 bags urea & 2,000 bags 16-20 fertilizer)
c. March 30, 2005 (Kid. Agri Supply) -- P670,000 (For 1,000 bags of urea fertilizer)
d. Sept 3, 2005 (Maharlika Farms) -- P180,000 (For 135 bags of 14-1414 and 80 bags urea)
e. Apr 6, 2006 (MAF & Equipment) -- P899,780 (For 496 bags 16-20 and 493 bags urea fertilizer)
4. On June 8, 2006, Provincial Accountant Meriam Paniza submitted to DA Southern Mindanao office a report of utilization indicating that of the P5 million fund, only P1,400 was left as of June 8, 2006.
Provincial Auditor Roberto E. Cruz verified the report. A copy of this report, along with the list of beneficiaries whose signatures or thumbprints appeared in the documents, was submitted to Atty. James G. Viernes of the Office of the Ombudsman on Aug. 4, 2007.
It was obviously at this time when the Ombudsman was conducting an investigation on the so-called "Fertilizer Fund Scam."
Piñol said the facts and figures he just outlined will prove wrong the insinuation that every local government unit that received funds from the Fertilizer Subsidy of 2004 was involved in a "scam". He said the accusation is a careless generalization of a few questionable transactions involving other local government officials and members of Congress who are not from agricultural production areas.
"There is simply nothing anomalous or irregular if and when agricultural provinces like North Cotabato would receive funds from the DA because we are after all key food production areas. We have received other funds in the past in support of our rubber and oil palm projects and a P20 million social fund for former MNLF rebels in the MalMar irrigation system area which have been fully utilized," he said.
Piñol admitted though that he could not say the same for areas like Metro Manila receiving the same fund from DA.
"What would be questionable is when officials of government units in Metro Manila and the urban centers would also receive fertilizers or other agricultural support funds for where in the heart of Makati, Manila, or Quezon City would you find rice fields?" he asked.
"How the Fertilizer Fund recipients from Metro Manila and other urban centers would be able to submit their proof of utilization just like we did would be a great mystery. And that is where the scam is," Piñol added.
The vice governor said he came out with the statement to clear his province of any involvement in the alleged scam.
"It is therefore inaccurate to label the P728 million Fertilizer Fund project as a scam because there were recipients, like North Cotabato, which used the money for its intended purpose which is food production. North Cotabato officials have always endeavored to observe transparency in their transactions and to give to the people what is due them. This is precisely the reason why the province, which was one of the 10 poorest in the country until 1998, is now one of the top 30 most progressive provinces and is ranked 9th among the Top 10 rice producers in the Philippines," he said. (BOT)
