DOLE head orders raps filed over P20-M bouncing checks

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas has ordered the filing of graft charges against labor department officials for issuing a bouncing check worth P20.9 million for sugar workers in Negros Occidental.

Earlier, the Binalbagan-Isabela Planters Association (BIPA) revealed that the check issued in May 2002 by the labor department bounced due to lack of funds.

DOLE Undersecretary Manuel Imson said they have already paid the amount to BIPA using other sources.

"We already paid them last Tuesday. The Secretary was very clear in her order that payment be made this week," said Imson.

Imson said the problem started when the sugar trader to whom DOLE Region VI Director Bienvenido Elorcha decided to sell the BIPA produce for crop year 2001 to 2002, turned out to have no money for the sale.

BIPA President Enrique Montilla III blamed Elorcha and Andre Patagani, DOLE special cash disbursing officer, for being too trustful to sugar trader Teresita Seran.

The more than P20 million represents the 3-percent share of farmers in the annual production of sugar in their area.

Republic Act No. 809 or the Social Amelioration Act, mandates that organizations of sugar planters and farmers set aside the money in the form of sugar planters quedans to be remitted to farmers in the 5 to 6 months of the year when there is no harvest in sugar lands.

Under the law, DOLE is mandated to serve as "trustee for liquidation, safekeeping and distribution" of all the proceeds at the end of each crop year.

Imson said Patagani and Seran have already been charged criminally for the scam.

Sto. Tomas has also ordered that investigation of Elorcha and four other DOLE officials be continued. — Sandy Araneta