Floirendo to appeal indictment for graft over banana plantation

MANILA, Philippines — Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. yesterday vowed to question Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales’ swift recommendation for his indictment for graft over his banana plantation’s lease contract with the government.

He said the ombudsman made the recommendation with “haste” as his case was resolved in less than six months since the issue came out last March.  

“This unfortunate development is unanticipated, given the haste the complaint was decided as opposed to other similar grievances that have taken years before they were resolved,” Floirendo said in a statement.

Last March, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez asked the ombudsman to investigate the transaction between the Floirendo family’s Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (Tadeco) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) over the lease of 5,000 hectares of the Davao Penal Colony to Tadeco for a banana plantation.

The Tadeco-BuCor deal was first signed in 1969 and was renewed in 2003 for a lease of another 25 years. In 2003, Floirendo was already a congressman.

On Sept. 18, Morales issued a resolution stating that she found probable cause to indict Floirendo for graft because he has financial interest in the Tadeco-BuCor deal.

Since Floirendo still holds P7.5 million in shares of Tadeco, Morales said he violated Article VI, Section 14 of the Constitution, which bars lawmakers from having direct or indirect financial interests in any contract with government.

Both Alvarez and Floirendo are close friends of President Duterte. Earlier, it was reported that Alvarez asked the ombudsman to investigate the Tadeco-BuCor deal because of a spat between their girlfriends. Alvarez and Floirendo are married men.

Floirendo maintained that he “did not have any direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in the 2003 (deal) that would fall within the ambit of the prohibition under the 1987 Constitution, or any other law.”

Floirendo also complained that while his case had been all over the media, he has yet to receive a copy of the resolution.

“Nevertheless, I have already conferred with my lawyers to adopt all the legal remedies available to us to prove my innocence,” he said.  

“I respect the processes of the courts and will abide by what is proper and appropriate in the instance. I have not violated any law nor have I used my public office for personal gains. Given the circumstances on hand, I am optimistic the complaint will be resolved in my favor.

“To my constituents, I strongly feel we can positively weather this latest challenge. You know the reason why this issue has happened. For that reason, we must not divert our attention from continuing to serve our citizens,” he added.