Plunder case filed vs fertilizer scam 'architect' et al

MANILA, Philippines (July 5, 2011) – The Office of the Ombudsman has formally filed with the Sandiganbayan plunder charges against the 'architect' of the P728 million fertilizer fund scam, former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, along with his former boss, a former colleague and several private respondents.

Bolante's co-accused include former Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo, former Assistant Agriculture Secretary Ibarra Poliquit, and private individuals identified as Jaime Paule, Marilyn Araos, Joselito Flordeliza, Marites Aytona, Jose Barredo and Leonicia Marco-Llarena.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman junked the respondents’ motion for reconsideration. "The arguments they raised were a rehash of what was already submitted to us. It was the respondents' signatures and actions that paved the way for the misuse of the fertilizer funds," Ombudsman's lawyer Mary Rawnsle Lopez said.

The camp of Bolante also tried to prevent the filing of the case by filing a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court against acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro - an effort that may prove futile because the Ombudsman was able to file the case against them at the Sandiganbayan.

With nothing more to prevent, Bolante's petition is already moot and academic, said Sandiganbayan spokesperson Atty. Renato Bocar, adding that the petition is likely to be dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Bocar said the plunder case would be raffled Friday. “Within 10 days from the receipt of the division that would handle the case, there is a need to determine whether or not there is probable cause. If there is, that's the time that the court will issue a warrant of arrest, hold departure order and a freeze order of their assets," he explained. (From philstar.com, Vox Bikol)