Padaca posts bail after Sandigan orders arrest

By Charlie Lagasca

ILAGAN, Isabela - The Sandiganbayan has issued a warrant of arrest for former Isabela governor Grace Padaca who is facing charges of malversation of public funds involving a P25-million contract for a hybrid rice program in 2006.

But Padaca was not arrested after she posted P70,000 bail for her temporary liberty.

           

“I am in touch with my lawyers on my legal option. The last advice I got was that we will be elevating the matter to the Supreme Court,” Padaca said.

           

As this developed, former vice governor Ramon Reyes defended Padaca, saying there was nothing irregular in the contract.

           

“She did not benefit from the amount. It was given to the intended beneficiaries through the foundation so it would be quicker to channel it instead of undergoing the bureaucratic process of biddings,” Reyes said. 

           

He said a board resolution and receipts also covered the disbursement. “It can all be accounted for,” said Reyes, who was the board’s former presiding officer when the contract with the EDWINLFI, a non-government organization that implemented the program, was signed.

           

Former Isabela congressman Santiago Respicio filed the case against Padaca, Pine and Soriano in 2007. 

           

Respicio claimed Padaca had “unjustly favored” EDWINLFI and merely relied on the agreement ratified by the board instead of conducting a public bidding.

           

The fund was part of the P35-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines for the province’s priority hybrid rice program.  

Padaca’s fellow respondents – former provincial legal officer Johnas Lamonera, municipal councilor Servando Soriano, and Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation Inc.  manager Dionisio Pine – have already posted bail.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division earlier said that unless Padaca pays P70,000 in exchange for her temporary liberty, police and other law enforcement officers may arrest her.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the case against the former Isabela governor for her alleged involvement in the questionable award of the rice program contract to EDWINLFI.

The non-government organization allegedly failed to liquidate some P3.6 million while about P18 million was later listed under loan receivables.

Padaca has denied the charges, saying EDWINLFI was granted the contract after it volunteered to help extend the money to farmers who were the intended beneficiaries.

Padaca said the loan used for the hybrid rice program was legally obtained and aboveboard, adding that even the Commission on Audit had validated that the loan proceeds had been released to the intended beneficiaries, and “had not accrued to the benefit of any public official or private person.”

Padaca said her lawyers were acting on the matter, citing her option to file an appeal with the Supreme Court.