THE Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant Wednesday against Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. on graft charges filed against him by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
In a statement, Floirendo accused Alvarez—once his longtime friend—of abusing his power as speaker to malign him with “malicious intent.”
The anti-graft court recommended bail of P30,000.
In September 2017, the anti-graft court indicted Floirendo on graft charges over the joint venture agreement between his family’s Tagum Agricultural Development Co. and the Bureau of Corrections that Alvarez said enabled Tadeco to use the land owned by the Davao Penal Colony at a low price that was disadvantageous to the government.
Floirendo insisted that the agreement was valid.
“All things considered, the filing of the case will reveal that the more than three-decades-old Bucor-Tadeco deal, which benefits thousands of inmates and their families and has provided livelihood to thousands of residents and workers, is valid and legal,” Floirendo said.
On Jan. 15, the Ombudsman affirmed Alvarez’s graft charges against Floirendo by denying the latter’s motion to reverse his Sept. 4, 2017 indictment before the Sandiganbayan.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales denied Floirendo’s motion to submit more evidence to back his claim he was not in a conflict of interest situation when Tadeco signed the joint venture agreement with the Bureau of Corrections.
In his counter-motion, Alvarez said Floirendo only rehashed his arguments already found without merit by the Ombudsman in its original September 2017 order.
The Ombudsman found probable cause to charge Floirendo for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for having a pecuniary interest in his banana company while in public office.
The Ombudsman said Floirendo owned P7.5 million worth of Tadeco shares when Tadeco renewed its JVA with BuCor for the lease of 5,308.36 hectares of land at the Davao Penal Colony.
Tadeco converted the land into a banana plantation.
Alvarez said in his complaint that Floirendo was the sitting representative of Davao del Norte in 2003 when Tadeco and BuCor renewed the JVA for 25 years.
Alvarez laughed off Floirendo’s accusation that the issuance of an arrest warrant against him was a result of Alvarez’s “abuse of power and arrogance.”
“Rep. Antonio Floirendo should stop complaining about the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the Sandiganbayan for graft charges in connection with the Bureau of Corrections and Tadeco deal, which is clearly grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the government,” Alvarez said.
He said the arrest order issued by the Sandiganbayan is part of due process.
“He now has every opportunity to answer the charges against him. This is our judicial process taking its course and allowing him to properly answer the graft charge and clear his name in the proper judicial forum.
There is nothing political here,” Alvarez said. “My only interest is to see to it that government gets its rightful share in the proceeds of the contract, nothing more, nothing less.”
Alvarez also maintained that he has a strong case against Floirendo.
“Floreindo should be man enough to face this case squarely. The court will try this case on the basis of the available evidence. If he can convince the court that he is innocent, then I will respect its ruling. But if not, he should be prepared to spend the rest of his life behind bars.”