Ex-Isabela gov Padaca convicted of malversation, graft

The Sandiganbayan has found former Isabela governor Grace Padaca guilty of malversation of public funds and graft in connection with the granting of P25 million to a private entity for Isabela's rice program.

Padaca, who was present during the promulgation, said she did not expect the verdict as she maintained that she did not steal from government coffers.

"Lahat ng iyon (P25 million), napunta sa farmers. Alam natin kung gaano sila naghihirap, umuutang [sila] sa mga traders at financiers. Hindi iyon napunta sa akin," an emotional Padaca said.

The anti-graft court ordered Padaca, a polio survivor, to pay the Isabela government P18 million in fine for granting the P25-million contract to Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation, Inc. (EDWINLFI) for the implementation of Isabela's rice program, even if the Memorandum of Agreement between the two parties was not approved by the Provincial Board.

Padaca, however, maintained that the contract is aboveboard because the Provincial Board gave her the authority to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with EDWINLFI and that she has presented proof of it alongside with evidence that the farmers benefited from the program.

“Isang taon na minarkahan ang mga ebidensiya, mga kontrata at resibo ng mga farmers, na sa kanila talaga napunta ang pera. Hindi ako pumasok ng MOA ng walang authority ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Binigyan nila ako ng authority na pumasok ng MOA, at notarized ito,” she said.

Padaca said she is hoping for a reversal of conviction. “Kasi I really don’t know what to think. Hindi ko alam talaga,” she said.

The Sandiganbayan sentenced Padaca to 12 to 14 years of jail time for her malversation conviction, on top of six to 10 years prison time for her graft conviction.

The court set Padaca's bail to P140,000—double the amount of the  P70,000 bail she earlier posted—for her temporary liberty. She was given 10 days to post it.

Despite her conviction, Padaca said she is prepared for a long legal battle ahead to reverse her conviction.

"Sure we will appeal this, even [all the way] to the Supreme Court," Rogelio Vinluan, the counsel for Padaca, said.

Padaca, also a former Commission on Elections commissioner, was a recipient of the 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Good Governance and is one of the founders of Kaya Natin, a movement for good governance. —KBK, GMA News