ANOTHER former lawmaker has been the fifth to be implicated in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam after the Office of the Ombudsman found that he diverted P5 million to a nongovernment organization and making it appear that fertilizers where distributed to farmers.

In two three-page informations, the Ombudsman slapped former Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte with graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan.

Also stand charged are state agriculturist Isabelo Luna 6th and private individuals Felizardo Dragon, Evangeline Ontiveros, Rosalinda Bisenio and Elmer Sayre of Lanao Foundation Inc. (LFI).

Graft investigators showed that Dimaporo along with the five other accused conspired to divert P5 million from the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Input and Farm Implement Program (FIFIP).

The Ombudsman added that the multimillion cash was released to the foundation “despite LFI’s insufficient funds to operate the program.”

Inspection and acceptance reports as well as physical and financial status reports were found tampered to appear that a total of 10,000 bags of Saka Organic Fertilizer were delivered to Dimaporo’s office and subsequently distributed to farmers.

“When in truth and in fact, as all of the accused knew, no such delivery and distribution of fertilizers happened,” the information read.

The six falsified documents were later on submitted to the Agriculture agency to justify the release of the public funds.

The anti-graft agency added that Dimaporo gave unwarranted benefit to LFI, which allegedly headed by Dimaporo himself.

For temporary liberty, each accused has to pay P30,000 for the graft charge. However, the malversation charge is non-bailable.

Dimaporo’s corruption charge is the fifth among former lawmakers who are facing criminal liabilities before the anti-graft court in line with the anomalies surrounding the FIFIP, better known as the fertilizer fund scam.

Charged in May 2011 of graft and technical malversation charges are former representatives Oscar Gozos of Batangas, Federico Sandoval of Navotas City, Nanette Daza of Quezon City and Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque.

Meanwhile, former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Ramon Lorenzo Jr., undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante and assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit are facing plunder charges.