THE older brother of Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay province found himself in legal trouble after the Office of the Ombudsman filed corruption charges against him before the Sandiganbayan over the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

In a two-page charge sheets, the antigraft court slapped Jesus Salceda Sr., former mayor of Polangui town in Albay and four others over the Farm Input and Farm Implement Program, or better known as the controversial fertilizer fund scam.

Also charged were Ma. Jimalyn Sabater, municipal accountant; Anna Robrigado, municipal treasurer; and Renato Silo, municipal agriculturist.

Private citizen Manding Arcalas, proprietor of Madarca Trading, is also implicated.

The accused are facing violations of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly causing injury to the government, by giving unwarranted benefits or advantage to Madarca Trading.

They are also facing a second count of graft for purportedly entering, on behalf of the government, into any contract, which was grossly disadvantageous to the government.

Graft investigators showed that Salceda and the accused conspired to purchase 1,315 liters of Young Magic Foliar fertilizer from Arcalas, which was about P5 million through direct contract sometime between April and December 2004.

According to the Ombudsman, the accused knew that direct contract is not applicable in the purchase provided under the Government Procurement Reform Act, since the price of the fertilizers is only P3,800 a liter.

“[The amount of fertilizer at P3,800 a liter] is 2,940 percent higher than the current market price, [which is only at] P125 a liter,” the information revealed.

Investigators from the Ombudsman totaled the injury against the government at P4.82 million, which the accused allegedly incurred because of the dubious purchase.

The Ombudsman set the bail bond at P60,000 for each accused.

Salceda is the first mayor to be charged before the Sandiganbayan regarding the fertilizer fund scam. Five former lawmakers have been implicated already.

Charged of graft and technical malversation charges are former representatives Oscar Gozos of Batangas, Federico Sandoval of Navotas City, Nanette Daza of Quezon City, Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque and Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte.

Former Agriculture secretary Luis “Cito” Ramon Lorenzo, former undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante and former assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit are facing plunder suits over the scam.