PNoy: Fertilizer Fund Scam Worse Than Pork Barrel Issue

President Benigno Aquino III brushed aside reports of anomalies under his administration by saying these “scams” pale in comparison with those that occurred under the Arroyo administration.

“I-contrast mo ‘yung pinalulusot noong araw versus ‘yung nakalusot ngayon,” Aquino told reporters recently.

He issued the statement after some lawmakers, even allies, were accused of helping fund alleged bogus groups under businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles using their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) — or “pork barrel”— allocations.

Even Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala’s office was dragged into the issue after it also reportedly endorsed the release of almost P90 million through one of the bogus organizations two years ago.

And although admitting that government processes during his term are not perfect, he said the PDAF controversy is nothing compared to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam during the time of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Compare mo sa fertilizer scam, gaano kalaki ang diperensiya? And yung fertilizer scam is the tip of the iceberg, marami pang iba,” he said.

“Alam mo ‘yung [Department of Agriculture] bago kami umupo...very marked difference ‘yung opportunities for potential—for misuse of public funds,” he added.

Aside from the fertlilizer fund scam, other controversies that rocked the Arroyo administration were the scrapped $329-million NBN-ZTE deal and $503-million North Luzon Railways (Northrail) project.

Aquino said since he assumed office, they have been implementing changes in government processes little by little .

“Hindi naman namin puwedeng sabihin na magiging perpekto (ang proseso). Hindi namin puwedeng masabi na talagang zero na ‘yung pagkakataon ng mga tiwali na mapagsamantalahan,” he said.

Aquino said he even asked Alcala and Budget Secretary Butch Abad to explain what these steps are.

“Marami talagang pinaghigpitan sa mga proseso. Parang, diyan na rin sa mga NGOs na dating nabibigyan ng mga pondo versus ‘yung na-accredit ngayon (ay) talagang ang laki ng binawas,” he said.

Aside from this, the President committed that no one will be spared from the investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, not even Alcala, on the pork barrel scam.—RSJ/KBK, GMA News/MP