Ipinagharap ng kasong graft sa Sandiganbayan si dating Talisay, Camarines Norte Mayor Rodolfo Gache at pito pang opisyal ng bayan kaugnay ng pagkakadawit sa fertilizer fund scam noong 2004.

Bukod kay Gache, kinasuhan din ng paglabag sa RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) at malversation of public funds ang mga opisyal ng Talisay na sina Cecilio Noora, Jr., Mirian Hernandez, Ireneo Zabala, Romeo Maranan, Felicisima Velasco, Raul Rayos, at Adela Adlawan.

Sinampahan din ng kaso si Hexaphil Agriventures President Alex Rivera at isa pang opisyal ng kumpanya na si Victoria Ajero.

Sa record ng kaso, tumanggap ng halos P3 milyon ang Talisay bilang benepisaryo ng Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program (FIFIP) ng Department of Agriculture (DA) noong 2004.

PRO3, nilinaw pagkaaresto sa mga Aeta sa Mt. Pinatubo

Sa pagpapatupad ng proyekto, bumili si Gache at mga kasabwat niyang opisyal ng 4,285 bote ng Hexaplus liquid fertilizer, na nagkakahalaga ng P700 kada bote, mula sa Hexaphil.

“Investigation, however, discovered that no public bidding was conducted by local officials; documents for the release of funds were prepared in just one day; reference was made to specific brand names; fertilizers were overpriced as a market probe for the same brand shows the cost at only P130 to P420 per bottle; and supplier was ineligible to participate in the procurement,” ayon sa kaso.

Paliwanag ng Office of the Ombudsman, minanipula ni Gache at ng mga opisyal niya ang procurement process upang maisakatupran ang proyekto kahit ito ay kuwestiyonable.

“Respondent public officers committed the prohibited acts while in the performance of their duties, and with manifest partiality, and gross inexcusable negligence gave Hexaphil unwarranted benefit advantage or preference when they dispensed with public bidding,” sabi pa ng Ombudsman. (Rommel P. Tabbad)