Why no plunder? MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 07/13/2010

Why no plunder?

MR. EXPOSE Amb. Ernesto Maceda 07/13/2010 Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has been sitting on the 2004 fertilizer scam for the last five years, after the matter was officially referred by the Senate to charge then Department of Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo, Undersecretary Joc-joc Bolante, Undersecretary Ibarra Poliquit, Undersecretary Belinda Gonzales, several assistant secretaries and officials of the DA complete with very strong evidence. There is widespread opinion that Merceditas Gutierrez should resign as Ombudsman. Malacañang is mulling impeachment proceedings against Gutierrez. Akbayan Rep. Waldon Bello announced he plans to file an impeachment complaint when Congress opens. Friday, she finally released the recommendation of her fact-finding team to charge Lorenzo, Joc-joc, et al. for malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft law. But she still has to conduct a preliminary investigation before Cito Lorenzo, Bolante, et al. can be charged before the Sandiganbayan and issued warrants of arrest. Whether Lorenzo will be discharged as a state witness is for the Sandiganbayan to decide. Cito Lorenzo, Joc-joc, Poliquit, Gonzales, et al. must be formally charged with plunder, not just malversation. The amount of P728 million malversed is certainly plunder. Will Ombudsman Gutierrez take another four years before she finishes the preliminary investigation? Still protecting GMA, Madame Ombudsman? It raises the specter that whatever the Truth Commission finds, it will just die a natural death in the hands of Gutierrez. q q q Buy now. DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said he will achieve self-sufficiency in rice in three years time. That implies importation of rice will continue, estimated at 2.1 million metric tons (MT) this year. Because of the huge harvest in Thailand and Vietnam, the price of rice on the world market has gone down to a low $330 per MT from the $1,000 per MT at which then DA Secretary Arthur Yap bought a few years back..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100713com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Predicting top Senate win FRONTLINE Easiest solution ignored FEATURE Electronic voting no threat yet to the old style ballot box MR. EXPOSE Why no plunder? NO HOLDS BARRED Spokesman AN OUTSIDERS VIEW The illusions of Ilustrado focus Obama sets campaign mode to attack