MANILA — The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday ordered the arrest of Davao del Norte (2nd District) Rep. Antonio Floirendo, Jr. in connection with the graft case filed against him by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for the alleged anomalous lease of land at the Davao Penal Colony.
The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division set a PHP30,000-bail bond for the temporary liberty of Floirendo.
Alvarez filed the graft case against Floirendo before the Office of the Ombudsman in March 2017 for his alleged financial interest in the Consolidated Joint Venture Agreement (CJVA) between the Tagum Agricultural Development Authority (TADECO) and the Anflo Management and Investment Corporation (ANFLOCOR).
ANFLOCOR is a subsidiary of TADECO, whose major stockholder is the Floirendo family.
In his eight-page complaint-affidavit, Alvarez said that in 1969, the TADECO entered into an agreement with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to lease a portion of land in the Davao Penal Colony to be used for the private company’s banana plantation.
The CJVA was executed in 1979, which extended the period of lease for 25 years and renewed in May 2003 for another 25 years.
At the time the contract was renewed, Floirendo was already a congressman of the Second District of Davao del Norte.
However, while he was serving as representative in 2003, Alvarez alleged that the lawmaker was also a stockholder of TADECO.
Citing data from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alvarez said Floirendo was also a board member of ANFLOCOR from 1997 to 2015.
On Feb. 9, 2018, the Ombudsman charged Floirendo before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”.
The graft case was filed less than a month after the Ombudsman denied the motion of Floirendo to reopen the case for submission of documentary and testimonial evidence.
The anti-graft body said Floirendo’s connection with TADECO violated Article VI, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “no member of Congress is allowed to intervene in any government contracts before any agency for his pecuniary benefit during his term of office.” (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
