Padaca wants graft charges dismissed

MANILA, Philippines - Former Isabela governor Grace Padaca has sought the dismissal of graft and malversation charges against her before the Sandiganbayan.

In a five-page motion filed before the third division of the anti-graft court recently, Padaca through her legal counsel Jose Joven Espinosa said the witnesses and documentary evidence presented by state prosecutors failed to prove her guilt.

The cases stemmed from Padaca’s alleged grant of a P25-million contract for a hybrid rice program to a non-government organization (NGO) without public bidding when she was governor in 2006.

Graft probers said Padaca conspired with local officials and awarded the contract to Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation Inc.  (EDWINLFI) based solely on a memorandum of agreement (MOA) approved by the provincial board.

EDWINLFI failed to liquidate P3.6 million of the amount that should have been disbursed as loans to farmers while P18 million was just listed as loan receivables, the prosecution said.

However, Padaca said there was no malversation of public funds, noting that a prosecution witness admitted EDWINLFI did not receive compensation and that the farmers received the loans.

She said she was not an accountable officer because she did not receive the funds for the rice program.

Entering into a MOA with any NGO is allowed subject to the guidelines issued by the Government Procurement Policy Board, she added.