Ex-Albay town mayor convicted of graftMANILA, Philippines — Former mayor Carmencita Daep of Manito, Albay and four other former municipal government officials have been convicted of graft over irregularities in the procurement of liquid fertilizer worth almost P3 million in 2004. The case stemmed from the purchase of 4,285 bottles of Hexaplus liquid fertilizer using the municipal government’s share in the controversial Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program of the Department of Agriculture. Government prosecutors said the respondents “acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence” when they entered into a direct contracting agreement with Hexaphil Agriventures Inc. for the procurement of the liquid fertilizer. The anti-graft court noted that without Daep’s assent, the BAC could not have proceeded with direct contracting. The court noted records showing that the BAC zeroed in on one brand even before the scheduled opening of bids.
