Former Isabela Governor and newly appointed commissioner of the Commission on Election posted the following reply to those who are criticizing her for accepting bail money from President Aquino. She cited this particular tweet: “ “Grace Padaca’s acceptance of bail money and refusing to subject herself to investigation speaks volumes of her character.”
Padaca’s reply:
“If i have done things the usual way, i would not have fought the dynasty in Isabela and win.
“If i were afraid like other people were, If i thought of my comfort and safety more than other people’s troubles and sufferings, yes, i would have done what was usual and ordinary – go to court quietly and immediately in order to post bail before the media finds out that i have a pending warrant of arrest.
“Being me, being Grace, I took the road less travelled. I opened myself to the possibility of being picked up by the police because i had a message that needed to be loudly told. Hence the overnight bag in the car that has been there for four months.
“If u want rotten things to remain the same, oh dear, that’s easy. Do things the usual and predictable way. Safe ka pa. Hindi ka pa lalaitin, babatikusin at huhusgahan.
“I am Grace Padaca. You dont know me.”
It’s neither here nor there.
The issue is not her courage in battling the Dy dynasty. The issue here is she has been appointed to a Constitutional Commission, which the Constitution says, “shall be independent.”
By accepting money from the President to pay her bail, doesn’t it make Padaca beholden to the President? If she doesn’t have the good sense or the sensitivity to see mistake in what she did, I’m worried of her “fairness” as Comelec commissioner.
I have been an admirer of Padaca for daring to go against the Isabela dynasty build by the Dy family.
Thwarted by what was seen as an electoral manipulation in 2001, Padaca, a former broadcaster, finally made it as governor against Faustino “Bojie” Dy III in 2004.
In 2010, however, Dy won. But the fight between Padaca and Dy didn’t end there.
Early this year, Padaca was charged with graft for allegedly giving undue advantage to EDWINLFI, a non-government organization tapped to manage a P25 million credit facility for Isabela’s rice farmers under a hybrid seed distribution program without public bidding.
Padaca argued that a bidding was not required for the project and the government was not put in a disadvantage by the deal.
The Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant for her last May and imposed a P70,000 bail.
Padaca, in protest, purposely did not post bail. She was not arrested, however, although she never went into hiding.
After appointing her last week, President Aquino gave Padaca P70,000 from his own personal funds for her bail clearing her of the graft charges.
“She looked for a way to bring down the interest rate to about one and a half percent and that helped her countrymen. If that is graft and corruption, she should have benefited personally from it. But the ones who benefited from the project were her countrymen and she should be commended for that,” Aquino in defense of Padaca.
Has Aquino forgotten that as President he heads the executive branch of the government. He is not a judge. He is not the court, which is the one who will decide whether Padaca is guilty or not.
As president, Aquino’s duty is to “execute its laws.” It doesn’t mean that he can take a short cut and arrogate the powers of the court to himself.
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The case of Grace Padaca might as well go up all the way to the SC if not resolved in the lower court to decide once and for all what Constitute Graft…The Court must answer the Question if the lack of bidding constitutes graft even when there is and obvious absence of Graft as defined by law…and if it is presumed then it will be contrary to the guaranteed right of the Presumption of Innocence…and for the President declaration of Ms Padaca Innocence is more of his personal opinion as the case is now before the court to decide…and since there is no Law to prohibit elected official from commenting on cases before the court, it is an open season…and the Court being independent can not be influenced by any comment of any official…
Sana mga Dy na lang ng Isabela kumampi si PNoy at hayaang ipagbaunan yang Padaca na yan
8 October 2012
Prudence dictates, Gov. Padaca should have not accepted the money coming from noynoy for her bail.
Simple logic, noynoy has appointed her comelec commissioner, how can she prove that her decision will not be tainted or pro-aquino? sabi nga nila pag ikut-ikutin mo man ang mundo may utang na loob na sya kay noynoy.
How can she show her independence.
The question here is not about the Dy dynasty, it does not even ask the question when she finally broke the dynasty.
We actually congratulated her when she broke the chain of the dynasty. Yet, it is not about her winning the governorship of Isabela or breaking the dynasty.
She should have not accepted the money for her bail.
It is a matter of principle. She should have not accepted the money from noynoy to post bail.
How can she now show her independence from her patron.
It is not a question if she did good things in Isabela during her incumbency, but she should have not accepted the money from noynoy for her bail.
Gov. Padaca its just plain PRINCIPLE.
prans
Getting too personal is what has happened here. The independence of Comelec has been compromised. Balak pa namang tumakbo ni Mar sa 2016 presidential election. The slip is showing.
Propriety has been rendered unmeaningful by the triumvirate, what they did demeaned them significantly.
With the president and DILG sec as friends, who would be afraid of the gallows?
Ookrayin ko sana ang tatlo pero tagaaaaal makakonek dito sa blog, later na lang.
From Roli in Washington State.
We really believe that Gov Padaca is a woman of integrity and just like you, could help the Philippines better if she will be in the Comelec. since PNoy had appointed her to Comelec, we would like to think that the bail posted is a continuation of the act (the appointment).
I think, it is an insult to Gov Padaca that she will be PNoy’s lackey for only Php 70,000. She may support PNoys agenda in return of PNoy’s supporting her in the past but not because of the php 70,000 or $1,700.
We love your article regarding Manny Pacquiao’s using God for his politics.
Thanks again for continuing to criticize the “tuwid na daan” without your criticisms (and others too), we will never have tuwid na daan for our beloved Philippines in our life time.
There is truth in the saying “lasing sa kapangyarihan”. Nagiging mapurol ang dati ay matalas, nawawalan ng sentido comon ang mga dating resonableng tao. Samantalang ang bobo lang sana ay tuluyang nagiging stupido.
I get the delicadeza part and Ma’am Ellen is correct to point out that Padaca should have not; but my understanding is Padaca does not have the money to pay 70k. Is that not accurate?
The question i have to Padaca is appeal, did she file one. If she did not have one, then that’s wrong. She should fight this to prove the innocence.
And utang na loob? By Filipino trait and practice, it already exist by the very fact Aquino appoint Padaca to Comelec, so the 70k and Mar accompanying Padaca is just cherries on top of the cake.
Chijap, Pnoy’s appointment of Padaca is an oficial act. Giving her P70,000 is a personal favor which compromises Padaca. This is where delicadesa comes in.
9 October 2012
As I said, it is a matter of principle, Gov. Padaca should have not accepted the money from noynoy. In fact, if somebody else gave her the money to post bail, it could have been a different storiy. However, since it is the President who gave the money for bail, is a different stories. I just adds color to her appointment.
As I said, she should not have accepted the money. Being accompanied by Sec. Roxas, what does it shows? your guess is as good as mine.
It’s a matter of principle lang po.
prans
What I thought humans have “different minds and principles” !. !..Our thoughts maybe not good to Padaca in accepting, the Php70K because of “decency”, but they may have a different perspective, that we don’t know..Lets us just see and observe, how the ex-governor, Padaca would behave, anyway, the ax of impeachment is always around, especially the media critics?..Probably what happened is the Power of the “kaya Natin Movement” that is getting strength from the LP membership ?..
I don’t believe that Padaca has no PhP70K, kahit pilipitin pa ako. 🙂 Ang intindi ko ay tumanggi talaga sya na magpyansa to prove her point in fighting Dy’s dynasty.
Masyado namang bumait at mabilis ang action ni Pnoy sa mga lider ng KNM after the death of Mang Jessie, if your theory Rodolfo #12 is correct. Why kaya? Your guess is as good as mine. 🙂
‘Independent’ is the fave word of politicians and public leaders, wala na itong kahulugan ngayon kasi bulok na dahil sa overused ng mga hunyango, pretenders at hypocrites.
Although accepting the 70K bail money from PNoy leaves a bad taste in the mouth, I still wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt on her independence and integrity as a Comelec commissioner.
Mike, very very bad taste. 🙂 Nah, wala na akong gana sa kanilang tatlo.
“What is it in being in position of power that dulls the mind and blurs the comprehension of people we thought were sensible?” – Ellen
Uso yan sa mga lider ng Pinas. Saktong-sakto, Ellen.
Sana kung halalan ay maging patas. Huwag isipin ang utang na loob sa pagkakatalaga.