By Ric V. Obedencio
Published by the Bohol StandardEven before questions could be answered why the result of the supposed investigation of the Capitol Poverty Funds has not come out yet, another controversy is again in the limelight.
The Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAO) has issued clarification over the misconception of the reported investigation on the alleged misuse of certified rice seeds (CRS) primarily intended for farmers’ planting use.
It said that the said probe was an offshoot of the report reaching the vice-governor’s office (VGO) that a lot of certified rice seeds distributed to the farmers, instead of being planted in the fields, found their way to the rice mills.
The provincial government has created a special body, composed of the PAO and the Provincial Legal Office and other offices, to do the inquiry on the report.
Quirog issued the statement to douse cold water to persistent reports reaching the VGO that only the millers “are penalized†on the misuse of the CRS. She said that the investigation has just begun. There is no truth to the report that only rice millers are probed.
“How can anybody be found of a wrongdoing if the probe has not been completed yet,†she asked.
In an interview yesterday, Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog said that the probe is intended to all parties believed to be involved in the disposal and milling of certified rice seeds. Parties included the distributors, farmers who are beneficiaries and even the municipal agricultural officers (MAO) in the towns and others who may be parties of the rice seeds mess.
The supply of the seeds was reportedly channeled through the Pilar-based Bohol Farmers Cooperative or BOFAMCO which got subsidy from the provincial government to procure the seeds.
She explained that the probe also tapped the active participation of the local officials, particularly the mayors, initially in the towns of Pilar, Sierra-Bullones, Tubigon and Alicia, where these rice seeds were distribute or allocated.
Only Mayor Luna Piezas of Tubigon has cooperated so far, she said. While waiting for other towns to do the submission of their report, nothing would be arrived at yet or what recommendation to take.
Efforts to contact Atty. Handel Lagunay and BOFAMCO former president Antonio Balonga for comments failed. Balonga was the cooperative’s boss during which the distribution of the seeds took place.
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