Padaca ally: Nothing irregular in P25-million hybrid rice deal

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Former governor Grace Padaca never benefited from the P25-million fund which her administration had channeled to a foundation, for which she is now charged for graft before the Sandiganbayan. 

Former vice governor Ramon Reyes, a close Padaca ally, said there was nothing irregular in the former governor’s disbursing the funds for the development of hybrid rice in the province through the Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation Inc. (EDWINLFI) in 2006. 

“She did not personally benefit from said amount when it went through the foundation but rather she thought that it would be a quicker way to channel the funds directly to the farmer-beneficiaries instead of the bureaucratic process of undergoing biddings,” said Reyes, who served as vice governor during Padaca’s incumbency.

Reyes said the transaction was also aboveboard as the funds were duly covered with receipts and could all be accounted for.

“(The disbursement) was also covered by a provincial board resolution at the time,” said Reyes who also presided over the board during Padaca’s six-year governorship.

Earlier this month, the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation charges before the anti-graft body in connection with the alleged illegal fund disbursement. 

Charged with Padaca were former Roxas town vice mayor Servando Soriano, former provincial legal officer Johnas Lamorena, and EDWINLFI manager Dionisio Pine. 

The complainant, former congressman Simplicio Respicio, had said that the action of the former governor was illegal because she allowed public funds to be loaned to a private organization. He filed the case with the Ombudsman in 2007. 

Padaca was accused of unjustly favoring EDWINLFI by issuing the P25 million merely through a memorandum ratified by the provincial board rather than through a public bidding as should have been done, the Ombudsman said.

Padaca, who lost to now Gov. Faustino Dy III in last year’s elections, derailing what could had been her third and final gubernatorial term, could not be immediately reached for comment.