Sandiganbayan proceeds with graft case vs. ex-DOST chief Padolina

The Sandiganbayan has ruled to proceed with the graft case against former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary William Padolina over the alleged irregular car loan plans the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) awarded to its employees.

The court's Sixth Division, in its March 28 resolution, denied Padolina's motion to suspend proceedings.

Padolina had urged the Sandiganbayan to temporarily suspend the trial pending the resolution of his petition for certiorari at the Supreme Court filed on February 22.

He said the suspension is a matter of judicial courtesy since his pleading at the SC is linked with the PhilRice case, thus the issues at the SC would be rendered moot if the trial continues.

However, the Sandiganbayan said Padolina failed to plea for either a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction in his SC petition. It said the trial must also continue for no TRO was issued within 10 days upon Padolina's filing.

"Without any TRO or writ of preliminary injunction ordering this court to suspend from proceeding, the mere filing or pendency of the special civil actions for certiorari, mandamus and prohibition cannot interrupt the proceedings in this case," it said.

The Sandiganbayan rebuked Padolina on his issue of judicial courtesy, saying the hearing will not cause confusion and disorder on what the SC may resolve.

Padolina is a co-accused of Bohol Representative and former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap for one count each of violation of Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case stemmed when Yap, Padolina and his colleagues at the PhilRice board conspired with another when they favored 10 beneficiary-employees for the institute's car plan which allowed them to obtain personal loans from the Philippine National Bank for the purchase of private cars.

The car plan failed to undergo a public bidding while the cars were then leased to PhilRice for the employees' official use, despite the fact that they continue to receive transportation allowances. —KG, GMA News