Witnesses invited at today’s Senate hearing on the fertilizer fund scam gave conflicting statements during the probe.

Maritess Aytona, who denied being a runner for alleged fertilizer fund scam architect Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, said that Jaime Paule told him that there are funds available for fertilizers for local government units (LGUs) and lawmakers and that it was Jose "Boy" Barredo who made the proposal for the allocation for the province of Bulacan.

Barredo, who approached local officials informing them of the fertilzier funds, denied Aytona’s claim and said that it was Aytona who sent her the instructions. He also added that it he received his salary from the office of Aytona at the National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity.

It is unclear if Barredo works with a fertilizer company or is connected to Bolante.

Paule, like Barredo, also approached local officials about the fertilizer fund.

Feshan misrepresents

Julie Gregorio, president of Feshan Philippines, Inc.said that around P50.7 million worth of fertilizer was bought from them. Feshan Philippines Inc. is one of the suppliers of the fertilizers involved in the scam.

The report of the Commission on Audit (CoA), however, said that the cost of fertilizer from Feshan amounted to P105 million.

Gregorio said that Aytona hired an accountant who then told her to record in Feshan’s documents that they received P105 million in spite of the fact that they only received P50 million. 

Gregorio added that they received P50 million—P12 million check from the office of Leonicia Llarena of Dane Publishing House, Inc. and P38 million delivered by Llarena’s staff to their office.

It was Paule who asked Llarena to pay Feshan. The role of Llarena in this fund mess is uncear. 

Meeting with officials

Barredo also said that he and Aytona met Rep. Monico Fuentebella and some Bulacan mayors and told them that they have available funds. He added that they told some of the officials that they had a 30-percent commission but Aytona denied this.

“I did not offer commission and I was not with him [Barredo] when he talked to Congressman Fuentebella and the mayors of Bulacan,” Aytona said.

“I am not involved with LGUs,” Aytona continued. “He’s been pointing to me.”

Denial

Aytona denied any involvement in the P728 million fertilzer fund scam.

Aytona told the Senate Blue Ribbon committee today that she had nothing to do with the selling of fertilizer to the local officials by Jimmy Paule and Jose “Boy” Barredo.

“I have never become an agent selling fertilzer together with Boy Barredo and Jimmy Paule,” Aytona told the Senate committee. “My job is just a consultant.”

Aytona said that, as consultant of the National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity Inc., she took care of accreditation, processing of papers and making proposals.

Aytona, who did not appear in the previous investigations of the Senate Blue Ribbon and agriculture committees, surfaced last week after she claimed that there was an attempt to ambush her.

Aytona had also denied any links with the former agriculture under secretary, who was tagged as the mastermind of the release of the fertilizer funds to a number of local officials and lawmakers. (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)

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