Ombudsman probes Arroyo on fertilizer scam

MANILA Philippines (July 4, 2011) - Former President now Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not yet off the hook after all, as the Office of the Ombudsman orders a probe on her involvement in the P728 million fertilizer scam.

Earlier, Malacañang issued a statement that Former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo and former undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante should be charged with plunder for their involvement as architects of the scam.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro went a step further,reversing the earlier recommendation on the plunder complaint filed by former Solicitor-General Francisco Chavez several years ago that there is lack of evidence to implicate Arroyo in the multi-million scam.

But the Ombudsman now is of different opinion and predisposed to put the former president on the spot.

“It is an elementary principle that a Secretary is an alter ego of the President who has direct control…There is thus a need to conduct investigation as to the complicity or liability of the former President with respect to the allocation, release and expenditure of the fertilizer funds,” a press release from the Office of the Ombudsman read.

There is wide public perception that Arroyo ordered key officials of the Department of Agriculture to divert huge amount of money earmarked for fertilizers to her campaign fund in the 2004 elections - and was smart enough to hide her involvement.

Impeached and resigned former Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez, a close ally of the Arroyos, was accused of "sitting on the case." Her inaction in the scam is one of the reasons brought forward supporting her impeachment. (From philstar.com, Vox Bikol)