Salceda brod first mayor charged in fertilizer scam

MANILA, Philippines - A former town mayor and older brother of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda is facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004.

Charged by the Office of the Ombudsman were former Polangui, Albay mayor Jesus Salceda Sr., municipal accountant Ma. Jimalyn Sabater, municipal treasurer Anna Robrigado, municipal agriculturist Renato Silo, and Manding Arcalas of the private firm Madarca Trading.

Salceda and his officials were indicted for allegedly causing undue injury to the government and giving unwarranted benefits to Madarca Trading when the town purchased 1,315 liters of Young Magic Foliar fertilizer worth P5 million through direct contracting between April and December 2004.

The transaction, said to be overpriced, supposedly formed part of the Farm Input and Farm Implement Program, popularly known as the fertilizer fund program.

“The amount of fertilizer at P3,800 per liter is 2,940 percent higher than the current market price (which was only at) P125 per liter,” the charge sheet read. 

Salceda is the first mayor to be charged before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the fertilizer fund scam since those previously indicted were lawmakers – Oscar Gozos of Batangas, Federico Sandoval of Navotas, Nanette Castelo-Daza of Quezon City, Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque, and Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte.

In July 2011, plunder charges were filed against former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo and former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante.