Former Isabela Gov. Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca was fined by the Sandiganbayan Second Division for failure to file her statements of assets liabilities and net worth for 2007 to 2010.
In a decision dated last Sept. 27, the anti-graft body asked the former Commission on Elections commissioner to pay a fine of P4,000 as it found her guilty on all four counts of violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for failing to file her SALN during her term as governor.
Padaca, through her lawyer Rogelio Vinluan, earlier asked the court to withdraw her earlier plea of not guilty on the charges, and later on pleaded guilty to the charges.
“Upon being personally asked by the court, accused Padaca affirmed the manifestation of her counsel and declared that she understands the nature and cause of the accusations against her. She therefore entered a plea of guilty to the charges,” the court decision stated.
“Considering the voluntary plea of guilty of the accused, and conformable with the provisions of Section 11(a) of RA 6713, the court hereby sentences her to pay a fine of P1,000 in each of the four criminal cases aforementioned, or the total amount of P4,000,” it added.
The anti-graft court’s Second Division chairperson Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr. penned the decision. Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musngi and Lorifel Pahimna concurred.
Meanwhile, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and now Pampanga representative got another reprieve after the Sandiganbayan cleared her in the plunder case involving P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence fund, leaving the case with only one defendant.
In an earlier dated Oct. 4, the Sandiganbayan First Division also dismissed the case against former Commission on Audit Intelligence Fund Unit head Nilda Plaras.
This leaves only former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte— currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation custodial center—as the lone defendant.
The Sandiganbayan based its decision on the Supreme Court resolution dated Aug. 23, 2016 ordering the termination of proceedings against Plaras, who went straight to the high court to contest the plunder charge.
“While admittedly accused Plaras has never submitted to the jurisdiction of this Court, the issue on jurisdiction advanced by the prosecution is, however, mooted by the foreqoing pronouncements, which have effectively rendered the Court devoid of Information and proceedings in this case,” the resolution read.
“Suffice it to state that in view of the recent development, the instant case against accused Plaras has no more leg to stand on, thus, warranting its dismissal.”
The Sandiganyan also recalled the arrest warrant of Plaras and lifted the hold departure order against her.
First Division Associate Justices Efren dela Cruz, Geraldine Faith Econg, and Edgardo Caldona approved the resolution.
The same division earlier cleared Ma. Fatima Valdes, former PCSO Board of Directors member, for her involvement in the alleged misuse of the PCSO’s intelligence funds during the term of Arroyo.
In dismissing her case, the court cited its April 6, 2015 resolution granting the demurrers to evidence of the other co-accused, namely PCSO board members Manuel Morato, Raymundo Roquero and Jose Taruc V.
The SC acquitted Arroyo last year after finding “grave abuse of discretion” on the part of the Sandiganbayan for junking the former chief executive’s demurrer to evidence.
The SC said the anti-graft court’s finding of conspiracy against Arroyo was “unwarranted” and “unsustainable,” adding the prosecution failed to prove that she was the “main plunderer” in the case.