Ex-Romblon governor urges Sandigan to cite complainant for contempt over Facebook post

The camp of former Governor Eleandro Madrona has urged the Sandiganbayan to hold the private complainant of his fertilizer fund scam case for indirect contempt for mentioning his pending graft charge at a Facebook group.

In a petition filed on April 15, Madrona called on the Sixth Division to order respondent Lyndon Molino "to immediately stop" discussing his case in public.

Madrona said Molino should also be penalized with a fine not more than P30,000 and imprisonment for six months if proven guilty.

Madrona said Molino posted on the Facebook Group called "Romblon Community" in February 2019 about his impending testimony, supposedly hinting of his conviction despite the ongoing proceedings of the case.

Molino further linked the Madrona case to the conviction of former Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee, who was found guilty of graft last year over the same scheme. 

Madrona said this violated the sub judice rule, which restricts the disclosure of pending judicial proceedings in public, and should be punishable under Section 3, Rule 71 of the Rules of Court.

The former governor added the Facebook posts of Molino risks influencing the Sandiganbayan and prevents him from enjoying a fair trial.

"It behooves upon this honorable Sandiganbayan, therefore, to censure respondent in terms that are just, so he may immediately cease and desist from continuing with his herein public pronouncements, in order that there may be a free, independent and effective administration of justice," Madrona said.

On the Lee decision, Madrona said Molino failed to state that he was convicted due to lack of a single witness or document in support of his defense.

Madrona faces one count of graft for allegedly taking advantage of his post in awarding a P4.8-million contract to Feshan Philippines for the purchase of 3,333 bottles of Bio Nature fertilizer.

The prosecution had said Madrona gave undue advantage to Feshan since the contract did not go through the required public bidding. —LDF, GMA News