Following a graft indictment by the Office of the Ombudsman earlier this week, Calinog Mayor Alex Centena yesterday said he hopes the Sandiganbayan junks the case, which surrounds an alleged anomalous fertilizer purchase from 2004.

The mayor was indicted on violations of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for approving the purchase of 666 bottles of fertilizer for P999,000, which was said to have given “unwarranted benefit” to Feshan Philippines, Inc.
However, Centena claims the municipal Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) completed and cleared all relevant documentation.
The purchase was said to have been led by former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, a native of Capiz, who served under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo./WDJ