The results of an initial investigation showed that the amount was funneled off in the course of more than a decade, Jovencio Evangelista, CIIF-OMG vice president for Legal, said on Friday.
"Sa initial investigation namin ay may mga sangkot na mga officers at employees ng kumpanya. Ito'y hindi magagawa ng walang kinalaman ang mga officers at empleyado ng kumpanya," Evangelista said in an interview on Dobo B sa News TV.
CIIF-OMG President Benedicto Lor was among those who saw tunnels that were used for dumping stolen copra and produce coconut oil.
The tunnels were supposedly at a warehouse where government-bought copra was stored.
"Dahil po ito ay may butas, nahuhulog po doon 'yung copra sa warehouse, naiipon po siya doon," said Evangelista, who also claimed that the resident manager had the holes welded in the last decade.
Evangelista said tons of copra was accumulated in the tunnels, which should have been sealed after they became redundant. The copra was then sacked again, weighed, and sold as new stock.
"Parang binenta ulit sa amin 'yung copra. So babayaran ulit po natin ito. Nabayaran na ito dati, babayaran ulit ng kompanya," he said.
Several officers were relieved of their positions in the course of the ongoing investigation.
Legazpi Oil Company Inc. is one of the six companies under the CIIF-OMG, along with San Pablo Manufacturing Corporation, Cagayan de Oro Oil Co. Inc., Southern Luzon Coconut Oil Mill Inc., Granexport Manufacturing Corp., and Iligan Coconut Industries Inc.
Middlemen removed
The personnel at Granexport were also replaced and the middlemen were removed to keep farmers from being exploited in the course of selling their copra.
"Ang nagyayari po kasi, napipilitan ang magni-niyog na dumaan sa middleman dahil ang sistema po ng pagbabayad ng Granex ay cheke," Evangelista noted.
"Siyempre po, ang ating magsasaka pupunta pa ng bangko, hahanapan pa ng ID. Ito po ay napaka-inconvenient para sa kanila," he said, noting that farmers now receive profits unfiltered as a result of eliminating middlemen.
Other anomalies were supposedly unearthed at Granexport like using fake or deceased sellers and electricity tapping.
A team of lawyers is now preparing criminal and administrative charges against officials and employees involved in the anomalous activities, especially those who supposedly stole funds from Legazpi Oil.
The Supreme Court has affirmed in 2012 that coconut farmers have a share in the CIIF-OMG funds since its companies and shares were deemed as government property, upholding an earlier decision naming the government as owner of the assets. [Rie Takumi/VDS, GMA News]
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