A former Cebu mayor was charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in a fertilizer fund scam. The Ombudsman said the transaction was consummated despite deficiencies in Sikap Yaman, such as the lack of accreditation required under a circular by the Commission on Audit (COA). The municipal government then entered into an undated memorandum of agreement with the nongovernment organization Sikap Yaman that lacked the stipulations on the project cost and time schedules. In a statement, the Office of the Ombudsman said it affirmed the filing of graft charges against former Bogo mayor Celestino Martinez III and municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. To process the payment to the NGO based in Quezon City, Martinez and Minguez issued undated and unnumbered Disbursement Vouchers (DV) and Allotment and Obligation Slips.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 04, 2016 05:37 UTC