Ombudsman orders probe of Arroyo over fertilizer scam

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered an investigation of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s alleged involvement in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro junked a previous recommendation to dismiss plunder charges filed against Mrs. Arroyo due to lack of evidence, a press release from the Office of the Ombudsman said Monday. In ordering the probe, Casimiro said Arroyo had "direct control" over the actions of then Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo and undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante -- two of the officials the Ombudsman had already recommended charged for the scam. "It is an elementary principle the Secretary is an alter-ego of the President… 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," the statement said. As of posting time, Elena Bautista-Horn, Mrs. Arroyo's spokesperson, has yet to reply to text messages sent by GMA News Online for their comment. Casimiro also took into account a motion for partial reconsideration filed by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and lawyer Francisco Chavez last month asking Arroyo’s inclusion in the plunder charge sheet. The Ombudsman recommended last April the filing of plunder cases against Lorenzo and Bolante for their role in the fertilizer fund irregularities, nearly six years after they fled the country to avoid a Senate inquiry on the scam. The scam involved the alleged diversion of a total of P728 million amount allocated for fertilizer support to farmers to the 2004 electoral campaign kitty of Arroyo, who was then running for president, and candidates under her ticket. - VVP/KBK, GMA News