Isabela board asked to probe case vs Padaca but...

ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines  – The provincial board here is being asked to conduct an inquiry into the P25-million graft case filed against former governor Grace Padaca. 

Former Isabela congressman Santiago Respicio, who filed the case against Padaca and four others for alleged illegal disbursement of public funds, called for the investigation.

Vice Gov. Rodito Albano, the provincial board’s presiding officer, however, said the inquiry will not prosper since the case is already pending in court. 

“I will not allow the discussion of this case by the board. I preside over the board and nothing can be taken up without my authorization,” Albano said.

Provincial legal officer Francisco Ramirez also warned the provincial board against pushing through with the inquiry, saying it is tantamount to sub judice. 

Ramirez said a parallel probe could also be interpreted as an effort to influence the judgment and an indirect contempt of the anti-graft court. 

Padaca, who lost the gubernatorial post to Gov. Faustino Dy III in the 2010 elections, was charged before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly favoring a private group, the Roxas town-based Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation Inc. (EDWINLFI), in the award of a P25-million rice project. 

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

A known close ally of the Dys, Respicio, who said no one influenced him to file the case, complained to the Ombudsman that a 2006 memorandum of agreement between the Isabela government and EDWINLFI to manage said fund was grossly detrimental to the government. 

 In her defense, Padaca said the disbursement of the fund was above board because it had the imprimatur of the provincial board, then headed by vice governor Ramon Reyes, who, earlier, cleared her of any irregularity.