Broker's affidavit nails key Ilonggo officials in fertilizer scam
Iloilo -- He delivered the money and was duly paid off for his efforts and role in the entire process. In fact, for fertilizer-project broker turned whistle-blower Jose Barredo Jr., it was all in a day's work as expected and assigned of him. For P10,000 a month in basic salary and 3 to 5% "SOP" or Standard Operating Procedure for his trouble and inconvenience caused him, this broker now recounts his role.
As such, in a signed affidavit, Barredo under oath narrated in Tagalog the specifics surrounding the now infamous fertilizer scam, subject of a Senate inquiry and has implicated top officials of Western Visayas and key Ilonggo leaders.
The News Today obtained a copy of said affidavit wherein Barredo began by explaining his link and participation to the government deal through his renewed acquaintance with one Maritess "Tess" Aytona. The duo were pals since their medical supply days on local government units (LGUs) back in 1997.
"Noong mga Enero 2004, ako ay muling inalok ni Tess Aytona na makatrabaho niya. Ang project ay ang pagbebenta ng liquid fertilizer sa mga LGUs and Congressmen. Ang pondo ay galing sa Department of Agriculture (DA). Ang fertilizer ay manggagaling sa isang kompanya na may pangalan na FESHAN PHILS. IC (FEHAN), may tanggapan sa 6 Sgt. Esguerra Ave., South Triangle, Quezon City. Ang presidente nito ay si Julie Gregorio. Ang nagbibigay ng capital na ibinibili ng fertilizer ay isang babae na nagngangalan na Nezy na siya may-ari ng Dayna Publishing, isang supplier sa Department of Education," Barredo Jr.'s affidavit stated. "Ang nalaman ko ay ang FESHAN ay siyang may connectons kay Usec Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante at itong kompanyang ito ang binigyan ng karapatan ni Usec Bolante na magsupply ng liquid fertilizer sa mga LGU officials, Congressmen at saka Governors bago mag-eleksyon ng 2004."
"Kapag pumayag na ang LGU official ay ginagawa ni Tess ang isang Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at papipirmahin niya ito sa kinaukulang LGU official at saka papirma naman para sa DA ay ang Regional Director ng Region na sumasakop sa nasabing LGU," the affidavit continued. "Ang MOA na ito ay dadalhin sa RD at kanyang pipirmahan at ipa-nonotaryo ni Tess at saka kanyang ipalalabas ang pundo sa opisina ni Usec Bolante patungo sa nasabing RD. Ang paglalabas ng pundo ay dalawang ulit, ang una (first trance) ay 65% ng nakalaang pondo para sa LGU. Ang sunod na paglalabas ng pondo (2nd trance) ay 35% ng nakalaang pondo."
Barredo Jr. said he was specifically assigned to take care of Region 6 or whole of Western Visayas because he is an Ilonggo. He then went on to narrate how they approached Capiz Governor Vicente Bermejo offering a 25% "SOP" only to be rebuffed and told that another supplier went as high as 40% SOP. Barredo Jr. said he personally delivered the "SOP" of Governor Bermejo from the first trance as released by the DA through the regional office.
He also remembers Bacolod Lone District Congressman Monico Puentebella who was offered P5 million worth of fertilizer project.
"Pumayag siya pero ang gusto niya ay 25% lamang ang fertilizer at 75% ay cash. Kasama ko noon si Tess Aytona," Barredo Jr. narrated. He went on to narrate about his personal visit to Governor Florencio Miraflores of Kalibo, Aklan who reportedly refused to sign the MOA unless he gets his P1.5 million "SOP."
And there's also Kalibo Mayor Reymar Rebaldo who was out to get P600,000 but allegedly wanted more reason why his wife had to follow and bring more money. The entire "SOP" was counted inside Mayor Rebaldo's room by his wife and siblings.
A different story for Iloilo Third District Congressman Arthur Defensor who refused outright the offer but asked that it be released to three mayors, Calinog Mayor Alex Centena, Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones and Ramirez of Lambunao.
"Si Congressman Oscar Garin ay tumanggap din ng SOP mga dalawang lingo bago mag-eleksyon ng 2004. Ang bigay na pundo sa kanya ng DA ay P5 million. Ang SOP dito ay P1.250 million at 75% ng P1 million fertilizer ay ideniliber sa kanya," he continued. "Si Congressman Edgar Espinosa ng Guimaras ay tumanggap din ng P3M pondo galing sa DA. Ang SOP niya ay 30%."
Barredo Jr. then went on to disclose that talks were made with Congressmen Lacson, and Governor Marañon however funds were eventually shelved after the trio changed allegiance to actor Fernando Poe Jr..
"Gayundin ang nangyari kay Cong. Fredinel Castro. Tinanggihan niya ang pondo na inaalok ng DA dahil sabi niya " alam ko na ang mangyayari dyan" at saka lumipat din siya ng suporta kay FPJ," he continued.
The affidavit was signed November 22, 2005. Yet he was not done talking. Barredo Jr. a month later would issue a supplement to his original statement this time to disclose more details on how he worked then in delivery the purported kickbacks.
His examples were transaction he said he did with Congressmen Puentevella and Garin as he went on to mention Guimbal Mayor Richard Garin as alleged conduit for the Guimbal funds.
Barredo Jr. in his supplemental affidavit also disclosed how they mixed water in the liquid fertilizer but sold it still to its original P1,500 per bottle price.
Of the 25 paragraphs, last seven paragraphs were dedicated to his recollection of how the transaction supposedly went and was realized in Iloilo's First District.
Former Congressman Oscar Garin in a radio interview denied Barredo Jr.'s accounts.
Other key politicians from Western Visayas Barredo implicated in the transaction all denied the allegations in separate media interviews over the weekend.
Kalibo's Mayor Rebaldo and Guimaras Rep. Edgar Espinosa even denied knowing Barredo.
Rep. Defensor for his part vowed to bring Barredo to Congress to prove his claims. Defensor is the chair of the House of Representatives' committee on good government.
While, Mayors Malones and Centena of Maasin and Calinog towns, respectively, admitted receiving the funds but not the so-called 30 percent commission. (See story on page 3)
The News Today also got hold of yet another affidavit of a supplier named May Faustino. Faustino came out to clarify that she had not signed any document relative to the DA program. Such after reports mentioned her as among the suppliers. Faustino said she was approached by one Lamberto Meneses whom she entrusted her business papers however since then, nothing was heard of Meneses nor the DA program she would have been qualified to participate as among the fertilizer suppliers.