FORMER Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes, who is still facing charges for the death of journalist Dr. Gerry Ortega, was slapped with corruption charges before the Sandiganbayan on Thursday in connection with the fertilizer fund scam.
The Office of the Special Prosecution charged Reyes with one count of graft for extending undue benefit to Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation (Mamfi) for the procurement of 3,240 bottles of liquid fertilizers without public bidding in 2004.
Charges filed against Reyes stemmed from the anomalous implementation of the 2004 Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program during Arroyo administration.
Prosecutors said Reyes released P3.25 million for the procurement to Mamfi despite its being incapable of implementing the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program. The said bogus NGO failed to submit the complete documents of accreditation.
Aside from Reyes, also charged were Mamfi president Marina Sula who testified as a witness in the plunder and graft trial of former senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and other lawmakers implicated in the pork barrel scam allegedly led by Janet Lim-Napoles.
