Palace unsure about Padaca’s reappointment to Comelec

Michael Bueza

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Malacañang confirms that no new appointment has been issued for Comelec's Grace Padaca after the Commission on Appointments bypassed her last June

MANILA, Philippines – The status of poll commissioner Grace Padaca hangs in the air as Malacañang remains silent on whether she will be reappointed after the Commission of Appointments (CA) bypassed her in June.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr confirmed on Tuesday, July 7, that no new appointment had been issued.

He said he had no information on President Benigno Aquino III’s final decision on Padaca’s reappointment.

Padaca could not be reached for comment.

Padaca was bypassed by the CA after her ad interim appointment was not taken up last June, before Congress’ first regular session adjourned.

She was at the Senate for her first scheduled CA hearing on June 4, but she suddenly left before facing the CA due to an urgent meeting.

Her confirmation hearing was eventually moved to June 10, but it was cancelled by the CA on that day, with no explanation given.

Padaca’s appointment to the Commission on Elections was opposed by former Isabela Representative and Vice Governor Santiago Respicio, who filed a P25-million graft and malversation charge against her before the Sandiganbayan in 2011.

Respicio alleged that Padaca, as provincial governor, gave undue advantage to a non-governmental organization to manage a credit facility project for Isabela’s rice farmers in 2006.

Padaca, who was Isabela governor from 2004 to 2010, denied the accusation. In a previous interview with Rappler, she said her camp had presented evidence before the court, like receipts from farmers, to prove that she was not guilty of the charges.

On May 21, 2012, the Sandiganbayan first ordered Padaca’s arrest. Prosecutors argued that Padaca had managed to evade arrest, but she said that the police simply never arrested her.

Padaca was then appointed Comelec commissioner by President Aquino on October 2, 2012. Two days later, the outstanding arrest warrant against her was enforced. She surrendered and posted a P70,000 bail, but it was later revealed that it was the President who paid for it using his personal money.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 30, 2012.

Padaca sought immunity from suit due to her appointment as Comelec commissioner, but the Sandiganbayan denied her motion.

Speaking to Rappler, she maintained that she is not seeking “special treatment” and that their defense is strong.

“If the point of the critics is that I don’t want to go through trial, it’s not true because all along, we are submitting evidences to the court. It’s just that, in the meantime, we are exhausting one legal remedy,” said Padaca. – Rappler.com

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Michael Bueza

Michael is a data curator under Rappler's Tech Team. He works on data about elections, governance, and the budget. He also follows the Philippine pro wrestling scene and the WWE. Michael is also part of the Laffler Talk podcast trio.