Warrant surprises Paz Lapu-Lapu mayor posts P140T bail at Sandiganbayan

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza claimed she was caught unaware of a malversation case lodged against her before the Office of the Ombudsman.

"I was surprised that these things happened around 2002 and I thought all the while, wala nako'y labot ug naatiman na to," Radaza said in a press conference.

The city chief executive said she could have defended herself and executed an affidavit if she was informed of her alleged involvement in the case.

It was disappointing, she said, that she only received information on the case one week ago from the Sandiganbayan.

Meanwhile, though she has not received an arrest warrant, Radaza disclosed she already posted a bail of P140,000 after she learned that the same has been mailed to the Cebu Provincial Police Office and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Charged along with Radaza are former Cebu fourth district Representative Clavel Asas-Martinez, Bogo Mayor Celestino "Tining" Martinez III, former Bogo municipal treasurer Rhett Rodriguez and municipal accountant Cresencio Verdida.

The other three were GSP Cebu executive director Alejandrita Meca, GSP cashier-designate Julieta Quiño and GSP bookkeeper Rhodoriza Kilantang.

Asas-Martinez, who served as congresswoman between 1998 and 2007, allegedly misappropriated P15 million of her Priority Development Assistance Fund for an anti-drug campaign of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

Financial and audit reports, however, failed to present how the funds were used.

Ombudsman said P600,000 of the P15-million from former congresswoman's PDAF went to the GSP Cebu Council where Radaza and Asas-Martinez served as treasurer and president at that time.

As of now, Radaza is waiting for the schedule for the hearing of motion for review.  (FREEMAN)