Alleba Politics

Yesterday, Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin did a privilege speech on the missing Fertilizer Funds based on the report of Che-Che Lazaro. Allegedly, 2.3 billion pesos (yes, BILLION not million) were put into the so-called fertilizer fund and distributed in different parts of the country through the members of the House of Representatives. The fund is from the Department of Agriculture’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program. A select number of legislators were allegedly given 3-5 million pesos from the fertilizer fund. Money from the fund was allegedly distributed a week before the presidential campaign period in 2004.

Makati, along with Navotas and Quezon City, was listed down as one area which received money. Locsin is the legislator from that city and he says he has never seen such money. Besides, according to Locsin and any Filipino in his right mind would know, there are no agricultural lands in the city which would necessitate any funding for supplementary fertilizers.
On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture has claimed that the money was directly given to the farmers and not through the congressmen.

The theory of those who can properly put two and two together (me included) is that the fund was used to ensure the success of the Arroyo presidential campaign last 2004. The timing, alleged purpose and the method of distribution of the fund are definitely questionable.

Today, Senator Lito Lapid claims he was able to receive part of the fund in his capacity as Governor of Pampanga (before he became senator). As proof, he showed the list of groups of farmers who allegedly received liquid fertilizers bought using the fertilizer fund. The interesting thing is that the evidence he showed was a seemingly photocopied and definitely handwritten list. You do not simply disburse million of government money and offer a measly paper of handwritten data as proof. Where are the receipts? Where are the vouchers? Sen. Lapid has only increased suspicion that the fund was indeed used for purposes other than it was supposedly intended for.

Moreover, farmers themselves from Pampanga have denied that they received even a single drop of the fertilizer. Sen. Lapid contends that it was impossible for them to give fertilizer to every farmer. The farmers’ group, Kilusang Magbubukid, says that they represent thousand of farmers in Pampanga and not one of them has received a single drop of fertilizer.
All the details on the investigation on the usage of the Fertilizer Fund are yet to be aired on the Probe this Thursday.

Whether the fund was indeed misused is still to be proven but it certainly seems like something fishy went on.

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