House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. (File photos from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
The warrant of arrest the Sandiganbayan issued against Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. on Monday revived the word war between him and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Floirendo on Wednesday said the arrest warrant was 鈥渁 clear sign of the existence of abuse of power and arrogance on the part of the Speaker.鈥�
Taking exception to Floirendo鈥檚 statement, Alvarez said in a press briefing, 鈥淲hoa, this is part of due process!鈥�
Graft case
The Sandiganbayan鈥檚 Sixth Division issued the warrant against Floirendo for the case of graft stemming from Floirendo鈥檚 stake in a corporation that raises bananas for export on government land in Mindanao.
The case arose from the complaint filed by Alvarez in March last year.
The antigraft court鈥檚 Sixth Division also issued a hold departure order barring Floirendo from leaving the country without approval from the court.
The warrant was sent to the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Wednesday morning.
Floirendo personally posted a cash bond of P30,000 for his temporary liberty at the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Emmanuel Carpio in Davao City past 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The congressman pledged to make himself available at all times and to 鈥渁ppear before the court where his case is assigned.鈥�
鈥榁eiled attempt鈥�
Floirendo also pledged to submit a copy of his approved bond undertaking to the Sandiganbayan.
After Floirendo posted the bond, Carpio directed 鈥渁ll enforcement officers鈥� to 鈥渃ease and desist from enforcing the warrant of arrest鈥� the Sandiganbayan had issued against Floirendo.
鈥淲hile 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,鈥� Floirendo said in a statement.
He insisted that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (Tadeco) deal that first began in 1969 鈥渂enefits thousands of inmates and their families, and has provided livelihood to thousands of residents and workers.鈥�
Alvarez said Floirendo should concentrate on his criminal defense instead.
鈥淭he problem with him is he cannot understand,鈥� the Speaker said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 so used to not being held accountable for his abuses his whole life because of their money.鈥�
Floirendo was charged on Feb. 9 with one count of violation of Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for having financial interest in Tadeco, whose joint venture agreement with the BuCor was extended in 2003 to 2029.
At the time, Floirendo was already serving as representative.
Ombudsman prosecutors alleged that he then held 75,000 shares in Tadeco worth P7.5 million.
Most of the banana company鈥檚 stocks were also owned by the Floirendo family through the holding company Anflo Management and Investment Corp.
Prosecutors said this violated Article VI, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that no senator or House member shall 鈥渄irectly or indirectly, be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the government 鈥� during his term of office.鈥�
Girlfriends鈥� spat
Floirendo argued in the Office of the Ombudsman that he did not participate in the negotiation and approval of the joint venture agreement on the use of the Davao Penal Colony land.
But the Ombudsman ruled this was irrelevant because 鈥渕ere possession of prohibited interest鈥� was enough to indict him for graft.
Floirendo was the top financier of President Duterte鈥檚 election campaign, shelling out a total of P75 million, or a fifth of the P376.01-million kitty.
Although Floirendo and Alvarez were Mr. Duterte鈥檚 major allies from the Davao region, speculation stemmed that their dispute arose from a fight between Floirendo鈥檚 longtime partner and Alvarez鈥檚 girlfriend, who confirmed the spat. 鈥擶ith a report from Allan Nawal