I found the following news from the Manila Standard issue of May 17,2011. Looking forward to the conclusion of this case, which may not be concluded for a quite a long time, I believe, knowing the justice system in the Philippines for the rich and powerful is not the same for the poor and the non-politicians.
Fertilizer fund mess: three accused post bail
"Three former public officials who have been implicated in the P728-million fertilizer scam posted bail at the Sandiganbayan on Monday.
Former Catanduanes governor Leonardo Verceles Jr. who is facing graft case paid P30,000 for his temporary liberty.
Former congressmen Nanette Castelo-Daza of Quezon City and Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque posted bail in the amount of P60,000 each on charges of technical malversation apart from violation of the anti-graft law.The three were the first batch of respondents to appear before the anti-graft court and posted bail for their provisional liberty after their cases were raffled off to several Sandiganbayan Divisions on Friday.
Verceles, Reyes and Daza were named as beneficiaries of proceeds from the sale of fertilizer intended for farmers.
Verceles’ graft case went to the First Division while Reyes and Daza’s cases wwould be handled by the first and third divisions, respectively.
The Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges against them last month after years of conducting an investigation into the alleged fertilizer fund anomaly involving public funds.
It also ordered the filing of plunder charges against former Agriculture secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and former undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, the prosecutorial arm of the Office of the Ombudsman, has decided not to file the cases yet against Lorenzo and Bolante after they filed their respective motions for reconsideration to block their indictment before the court". By Macon Ramos-Araneta
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