Ex-Masbate governor faces ‘pork’ raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges before the Sandiganbayan yesterday against former Masbate governor Antonio Kho in connection with the fertilizer fund scam.

Former provincial administrator and bids and awards committee chairman Roger Rapsing, Hexaphil president Alex Rivera and Area Agriventures Inc. manager and collector Victoria Ajero were included in the charge sheet.

The graft charges stemmed from Kho’s release of P5 million of the P728 million allocated for the implementation of the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program (FIPIP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in 2004.

Graft probers said Kho entered into a memorandum of agreement with a regional unit of the DA as one of the beneficiaries of the FIFIP and allotted P5 million to purchase fertilizers.

Kho approved two purchase requests for 7,143.33 bottles of Hexaplus liquid fertilizers amounting to P700.08 per bottle.

The fertilizers were procured through direct contracting in favor of Hexaplus as exclusive distributor.

Ombudsman probers said the transactions were marred with irregularities, citing references to specific brand names and the use of direct contracting.

The ombudsman said Hexaphil submitted fake or expired business permits and licenses from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority and Securities and Exchange Commission.