Padaca not guilty of graft, says Noy

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino believes that Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Grace Padaca is innocent of the charges against her, even as she faces trial for graft and malversation of public funds.

The President said this was why he shouldered the P70,000 bail that the Sandiganbayan set for Padaca, who was a broadcaster prior to joining government in 2004.

Aquino said the case where Padaca was being accused of benefiting by helping farmers bring their loan interest down to one and a half percent, from a high of 30 percent, is absurd.

“I think the people of Isabela benefited from what she did and she was looking for solutions to help the farmers,” he said.

Former Isabela Rep. Santiago Respicio charged Padaca with allegedly granting a P25-million hybrid rice project to a non-government organization without public bidding.

A two-term governor who served for six years from 2004 to 2010, Padaca lost in her gubernatorial bid in 2010. She claimed that she was cheated by the Dy political dynasty in Isabela.

Her younger brother Marlo Angelo, a 47-year-old salesman, is now running for governor in the May 2013 polls as an independent candidate.

Grace was supposed to seek the gubernatorial race anew but backed out due to her Comelec appointment.

Palace blames Sandigan for non-arrest of Padaca

Malacañang also washed its hands of queries regarding lingering suspicions on how Padaca managed to evade arrest since May this year, when the warrants had already been issued by then.

“I have no idea. You should ask Sandiganbayan that. Again, it’s a separate branch of government. I have no idea why the Sandiganbayan never executed that arrest,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

He said the Sandiganbayan issued the warrant of arrest and the Palace has no information why she was never arrested.

Padaca, who claimed that the cases were a product of “political persecution” by her political enemies in Isabela, eventually showed up and posted bail.