Also facing indictment are former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, as well as officials and employees of implementing agencies–National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor), National Livelihood Development Corporation (NLDC) and Technology Resource Center (TRC). It added that the Department of Budget and Management issued seven Special Allotment Release Orders totaling P65 million as part of Clarete’s PDAF. According to Clarete, the P65 million was used to fund the distribution of livelihood technology kits and trainings; water pumps; hand tractors; calamansi, rambutan and mango seedlings. But on-site validation revealed that the supposed beneficiaries denied having received any of the items, saying none of the mayors or municipal agriculturists were aware of the projects. In defense, Clarete claimed that her signatures on the documents were forged and that the Commission on Audit (COA) has not issued a notice of disallowance for the fund use.

Source: Manila Times September 16, 2016 13:41 UTC