MANILA, Philippines – Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Antonio Floirendo Jr pleaded not guilty to one count of graft before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Friday, May 25. This was over the alleged anomalous Tagum Agricultural Development Company (Tadeco) deal.

The court also approved Floirendo’s travel motion to be part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s delegation to South Korea. The President will visit South Korea from June 3 to 5 where he is set to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae In.

Floirendo is charged with graft for having financial interest in the government’s deal with Tadeco, a company his family owns. The Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) leased 5,000 hectares of land to Tadeco to use for their banana plantation business. 

Floirendo’s pre-trial will start at the Sandiganbayan 6th Division on August 15. The prosecution said they have lined up 18 witnesses, while Floirendo has 4.

This is an interesting dynamic in the relations surrounding Duterte. Floirendo is a close friend of the President, and was also Duterte’s top campaign financier.

The one who sued Floirendo is House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, also a top ally of the President. Floirendo and Alvarez were longtime friends before this spat, allegedly a result of their quarrelling girlfriends.

Alvarez recently earned the ire of Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, over the latter’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

The last time that Floirendo and Duterte were together for a trip was in April when the President went to China to meet President Xi Jinping. – Rappler.com