Late Roundup

-- De Quiros talks about blogs.

-- Neal Cruz has some advice for Ate Glue. I hope she listens.

-- Lito Banayo: "Nakaw muna, sunod lipad"

-- From Ernie Maceda:

Malversation. Three Metro Manila Congressman, Federico Sandoval of Malabon-Navotas, Nanette Castelo Daza of Quezon City and Edgardo Zialcita of Parañaque City, all Lakas members, have formally admitted they received their share from the fertilizer funds before the May, 2004 elections. Five million pesos for Zialcita and P3 million each for Sandoval and Daza.

Sandoval said he used the money to buy an expensive shredder for garbage. Daza also bought a shredding machine. Zialcita said the P5 million was used for training for livestock dispersal and modern fishing. These explanations are unacceptable. These are fertilizer funds to be used to purchase and distribute fertilizers for farmers. Some of the recipient congressmen and mayors accepted liquid fertilizers as a matter of fact. The budgetary title is specific — fertilizer funds.

A shredder is not fertilizer. Training for livestock dispersal or modern fishing methods is not fertilizer. There are other budgetary items in the Department of Agriculture budget for those specific activities.

There is technical malversation here. The Ombudsman should look into this. And why should a simple shredder cost P3 million? Only 10 percent of Parañaque are fishermen, why P5 million for training of fishermen? Definitely something is wrong here.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., should also invite Representatives Sandoval, Daza and Zialcita to his next hearing.