PASACAO, Camarines Sur – Coconut farmers in this seaport town want their town mayor to explain where the P5 million funding assistance that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reportedly handed to him two years ago went.

        Pasacao coconut farmers were hardest hit by the last two typhoons that ravaged Bicol in October and November last year, which puts them in a very tight situation and are wanting of every help that government could extend to them.

        Reportedly, the amount was handed to Municipal Mayor Manuel Lee Oliver when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated in 2004 the municipal fishport in Bgy. Sta. Rosa del Sur, this town, supposedly as financial assistance for the benefit of coconut farmers.

        Probing coconut farmers said reliable sources have informed them that the amount has been deposited with a rural bank owned by a close kin of a female municipal kagawad, which is a violation of anti-graft law, as it places the funds beyond the reach of the Commission on Audit.

        Commission on Audit rules provide that government funds, including releases to local government units by the Office of the President, must be deposited in any of the banks owned and/or authorized as depository bank by the government such as the Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National bank, and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

        The coconut farmers said they also learned that Mayor Leee Oliver was able to secure a loan of P400,000 allegedly out of the deposited P5 million funding assistance intended for the coconut farmers. As to where the mayor spent the loaned amount, the coconut farmers wanted to know.

        When Bicol Mail tried to reach the municipal hall, none of the municipal officials would confirm nor deny the existence of the P5 million funding assistance from Malacanang. Bicol Mail also tried but failed to contact Mayor Lee Oliver as of press time.