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SAN JOSE, Antique – Former governor Exequiel Javier felt “vindicated” when the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the malversation charge filed against him.
There was “lack of probable cause” to charge Javier and two others with the crime, the Ombudsman said in a resolution.
Javier believed political opponent Gov. Rhodora Cadiao was behind the case. He said he will file a graft charge against her.
The case stemmed from the discovery of 400 sacks of rotting NFA (National Food Authority) rice in the comfort rooms of a gymnasium here.
Local media personalities Wilson Geronimo and Rey Alcalde filed the case against the former governor in July 2015.
Other respondents were former provincial administrator Efren Esclavilla and former administrative aide Artteem Gidaya.
Javier told local reporters he was happy with the Ombudsman’s decision.
He said he had no control over the 400 sacks of rotting rice because he was no longer the governor when they were discovered in 2015.
On Jan. 13, 2015, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified Javier for allegedly committing an election offense.
On Feb. 3 of the same year, Comelec and the Interior department served the suspension order and installed Cadiao — then vice governor — as replacement.
The Supreme Court has since reversed the Comelec’s decision.
Cadiao had responsibility over the rotting rice, having been “interim governor” from Feb. 3, 2015 to March 27, 2016, Javier insisted.
Javier claimed Cadiao did not heed the request of then NFA assistant regional manager Hedy Jardeleza to take the rice back.
In April 2015, Cadiao said capitol will not pay for the rotting rice; doing so would be a “disservice to the people of Antique.”
Javier also said he will charge Alcalde, Geronimo and two other media personalities — Modesto Montano and Patrick Cabrillos — with malicious prosecution.
Before the malversation charge, Montano and Cabrillos charged Javier with violation of Section 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and misdelivery. The Ombudsman allegedly ignored the case.
On Dec. 30, 2014, Javier reportedly asked the NFA permission to withdraw 400 bags of rice “for relief operations during and after typhoon ‘Ruby.’” The rice cost P540,000.
The then governor also allegedly ordered the transfer of the sacks of rice from his residence in Barangay San Fernando to the EBJ Gymnasium at the Binirayan Sports Complex using the Provincial Engineer’s Office dump trucks. (PNA)
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