Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

SC junks case vs. ex-Ombudsman Gutierrez on fertilizer fund scam

Posted on January 30, 2014

By Perfecto T. Raymundo

MANILA, Jan. 30 (PNA) — The Supreme Court (SC) has exonerated former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in connection with the petition filed by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez.

In an en banc ruling, the SC dismissed the petition for mandamus filed by Chavez against Gutierrez asking the SC to compel her to act on four separate complaints for plunder and other crimes that the former filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) in 2004.

Chavez filed a complaint against former President and now Pampanga (2nd District) Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante and several others in connection with the “fertilizer fund scam.”

The second complaint involved P1.1 billion that was denominated as “rice, corn and livestock maintenance and operating expenses” as part of Arroyo’s “Ginintuang Masaganang Ani” program. Arroyo, Lorenzo, Bolante and some others were sued.

The third complaint pertains to the “Oplan Mercury” which involved public funds amounting to P200 million allegedly sourced from various government agencies for use in Arroyo’s 2004 presidential bid.

The fourth complaint concerns the alleged diversion of more than P600 million from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Fund and supposedly used for Arroyo’s political and other unrelated purposes.

In the ruling, the SC said that on Sept. 11, 2013, Chavez passed away.

Gutierrez resigned on May 6, 2011.

Former SC Senior Associate Justice Conchita Carpio Morales presently heads the Ombudsman.

“With Chavez, the third party seeking by mandamus the immediate resolution of the cases, already deceased and with Gutierrez no longer in a position to do that [the petitioner] had demanded of her, the action may be deemed moot and academic,” the ruling, signed by SC en banc Clerk of Court Atty. Enriqueta E. Vidal, said. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme