Sandigan orders Floirendo’s arrest over Tadeco-Bucor deal
The Sandiganbayan ordered on Wednesday the arrest of Davao del Norte (2nd Dist.) Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. on a graft case over the alleged irregular lease of land by his family-owned company at the Davao Penal Colony managed by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). Bail was set at R30,000. The arrest order was issued by the Sixth Division of the Sandiganbayan chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez on a case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman based on the complaint lodged by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Sources said the arrest order was relayed to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) both in their offices in Metro Manila and
in Davao del Norte.
Earlier, the Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order (HDO) against Floirendo.
Alvarez filed a graft complaint against Floirendo over the latter’s alleged financial interest in the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Tagum Agricultural Development Authority (Tadeco) and Anflo Management and Investment Corp. (ANFLOCOR), on the one hand, and the Bucor, on the other. ANFLOCOR is Tadeco’s subsidiary. Both Tadeco and its subsidiary are controlled by the Floirendo family.
The complaint stated that in 1969, Tadeco signed an agreement with Bucor on the lease of a portion of land in the Davao Penal Colony to be utilized as a banana plantation.
In 1979, a joint venture agreement was signed which extended the lease for 25 years. In 2003, the agreement was extended for another 25 years, the complaint alleged.
When the lease was renewed, the complaint said Floirendo was already a member of the Lower House representing the second district of Davao del Norte and at the same time, stockholder of Tadeco and board member of ANFLOCOR.
In filing a case against Floirendolast February 9, the Office of the Ombudsman said the Davao legislator violated Section 3 (h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) for having financial interest in Tadeco and AFLOCOR.
Ombudsman prosecutors also said Floirendo violated Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution which states that no member of Congress should intervene in any government contract for his or her benefit during his or her term of office.
Valid and legal Floirendo, in a statement, said the filing of the graft charges against him and the subsequent issuance of the warrant of arrest in connection with the BuCor-Tadeco deal “is a clear sign of the existence of abuse of power and arrogance on the part of the Speaker."
"While I welcome the hastily filed complaint I would like to point out that this transgression on the part of the Speaker is not only political but a veiled attempt at grabbing the deal for his business and personal interest," he claimed.
Alvarez, who represents Davao del Norte's 1st district criticized the JVA as grossly disadvantageous to the state, aside from being patently illegal. He estimated that the government will incur a total of R25.464 billion in lost income when the lopsided deal is over.
Floirendo stood pat on the legality of the JVA.
"All things considered, the filing of the case will reveal that the more than three-decade 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."
"I am ready to face this case as this will give the opportunity to clear my name. My only hope is for the Speaker to insulate the courts from his established brand of maneuvering and undue influence," he noted.
"Despite such setback, I maintain my faith in our justice system because I have not done anything wrong. In the end, I am confident that I will prevail because the truth is on my side," Floirendo added.