(I am not a thief)” she said in reaction to the court decision released on Friday. I’ve never abused public funds.”P18-M fineThe antigraft court’s Third Division sentenced Padaca to up to 14 years in prison for graft, and up to 10 years for malversation of public funds. The court, however, allowed Padaca to double her bail bond of P70,000 for her provisional liberty while she and her lawyer, Rogelio Vinluan, appeal the verdict. The NGO that carried out the program also did not charge the farmers for its service, Padaca added. When Padaca signed the MOA on Jan. 9, 2006, she was not yet authorized to do so by the provincial board, the court said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 15, 2019 21:11 UTC