ANTIQUE – The Seventh Division of the Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Gov. Rhodora Cadiao who is accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the anti-graft court.
Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomes-Estoesta, the Division chairman, issued the arrest warrant on Wednesday, June 7, and set the bail bond at P90,000.
Cadiao’s case stemmed from her 2016 order reassigning Provincial General Services Office head Antonio Dela Vega to their Culasi satellite office some 100 kilometers away from the provincial capitol in the capital town of San Jose.
Believing that his reassignment was tantamount to constructive dismissal, Dela Vega questioned the validity of the transfer order before the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
CSC ordered Dela Vega’s reinstatement to the Provincial General Services Office on March 2017 and further ordered the provincial government that he be paid the representation and travel allowance (RATA) and other benefits due him covering the time he was reassigned to Culasi (from July 2016 to February 2018).
Dela Vega decided to file a complaint against Cadiao before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas in 2018 when he failed to get the benefits due him as ordered by the CSC.
He complained that the governor did not sign his daily time record (DTR), which in turn also resulted to the failure of the Provincial Accountant and Provincial Treasurer to process the release of his benefits.
The Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Cadiao for one count violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) in a resolution dated Sept. 2, 2019 signed by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Oct. 22, 2021.
On June 7, 2023 an arrest warrant against Cadiao was issued.
The order of Justice Gomes-Estoesta read: “You are hereby commanded to arrest Rhodora J. Cadiao, Barangay Badiang, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique who stands charged of the above-stated crime and bring said accused before this Court to be dealt with as the Law and Rules of Court direct.”
The order to arrest Cadiao was addressed to the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief; director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); chief of police of San Jose, Antique; the police provincial director of Antique; director of the NBI in Region 6; and any law enforcement officer.
The Information filed at the Sandiganbayan by the Ombudsman’s Assistant Special Prosecutor II, Lyn Dimayuga, stated that the amount refused to be paid to Dela Vega reached P1,664,810.
Cadiao could not be reached for comment as of this writing./PN
