Jinggoy, Gringo gave ‘pork’ to ghost farm projects – DAR

Published December 2, 2013 9:59pm

Pork barrel funds of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Gringo Honasan were used to pay for allegedly non-existent agricultural projects, the Department of Agrarian Reform-Legal Affairs Office said on Monday.

A "24 Oras" report aired Monday evening said DAR lawyers found Estrada endorsed P70 million for DAR organic farming livelihood projects implemented by NGOs in 10 towns while Honasan endorsed P150 million worth of projects in 14 municipalities.

Local officials of the towns denied receiving funds for the projects. Of the 14 NGOs mentioned in the report, nine were linked to alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

“Merong halos, humigit-kumulang P230 milyon na pondo na nai-release sa 13 o 14 na mga NGO noong taong 2011,” DAR undersecretary Anthony Parungao of DAR-LAO said in an interview with GMA News.

“Ito ay yung mga na-proseso, nalagdaan ng mga sari-saring opisyal dito sa gobyerno na lumalabas, bilang resulta ng aming inisyal na imbestigasyon, ay wala naman palang proyekto na naganap,” he added.

Parungao submitted the report to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on November 8.

The television report said that of the 14 NGOs mentioned in the report, nine were linked to alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Among the NGOs chosen as project implementors by Estrada were:

Ang Kaupdanan para sa Mangunguma Foundation,
Karangyaan para sa Magsasaka Foundation, Inc.,
Masaganang Buhay Foundation, Inc.,
Agri and Economic Program for Farmers Foundation, Inc.,
Agrikultura para sa Magbubukid Foundation, Inc.,
Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development, Inc.,
People's Organization for Progress and Development Foundation, Inc.,
Ginintuang Alay sa Magssaka Foundation, Inc.,
Pangkabuhayan Foundation, and
Social Development Programs for Farmers Foundation, Inc.

Honasan, meanwhile, allegedly awarded the projects to:

Ang Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Kapatagan at Kabundukan Foundation, Inc.,
Divine Grace Foundation, Inc., and
Workphil Foundation, Inc.

Investigators also found that a certain organization called “Focus” received P10 million from an unidentified lawmaker who named it as a project implementor.

DAR-LAO also issued a memorandum naming eight DAR officials who allegedly signed the checks and memoranda of agreement to facilitate the release of the funds to the NGOs.

Parungao said it is up to the Executive Secretary to determine the liability of presidential appointees involved in the issue.

“Ang may tanging kapangyarihan para magdesisyon at mag-imbestiga tungkol sa pang-administratibong liabilidad ng mga presidential appointees ay ang nasabing tanggapan, para lang po sa layuning iyon,” he said.

Parungao's investigation began in August upon the order of DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes.

He also coordinated with the Office of the Solicitor General to build cass up, and is set to meet with the Department of Justice to identify the incorporators of the said NGOs.

In a text message to GMA News, Honasan said his office will discuss the issue with DAR.

“We shall closely coordinate with DAR on this matter to ensure that the support we intended for our farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries be properly implemented and that any improper utilization thereof by those responsible in its implementation be corrected immediately,” Honasan said.

Estrada, meanwhile, has yet to comment on the issue. — Amita Legaspi/JDS, GMA News

Tags: jinggoyestrada, gringohonasan, departmentofagrarianreform