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FORMER congressman and mayor Constantino Jaraula yesterday maintained his “absolute and total innocence” concerning the “fertilizer charges” before the 2nd Division of the Sandiganbayan, and assured his supporters not to worry at all.

Jaraula

He clarified that the P3-million fertilizer fund did not come from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) but that it was part of the national allocation for all congressional districts before the election of 2004 where cases against former Agriculture assistant secretary Jocjoc Bolante were already dismissed.

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He explained that he and now-retired city agriculturist Alfredo Bajas did not receive any single centavo in the DA transaction but only products – “foliar fertilizers” which the late DA regional director Rufo Chan caused to be delivered to the city which was then a lone district.

He said Chan had assured him and Bajas that the products were purchased in Cebu City by DA-Cebu whose personnel accredited the NGO two years earlier, and DA-Cebu just sent the products to DA 10 for delivery to the congressional districts.

Jaraula said the Office of the Ombudsman already caused the dismissal of the cases against the DA-Cebu officials who accredited the NGO. He said it likewise caused the dismissal of the corresponding cases against him on the ground that it has no proof that the “foliar fertilizers” were overpriced.

Meanwhile, Bajas submitted already for his defense numerous affidavits/certifications from barangay officials and farmers that they received the products as distributed by Bajas and his personnel.

Jaraula said several barangay chairpersons asked for more as their farmers benefited so much from it.

“The government did not lose any amount in so far as the ‘products’ were delivered to the city agriculturist who in turn distributed them to the barangay officials and/or farmers,” Jaraula said.

He said the biggest loss is that of him and Bajas for being hailed to the Sandiganbayan and “spending so much for cases that have no bases at all.” (PR)

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