Ex-Antique solon charged with graft for favoring coop with rice mill

Former Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier was charged before the Sandiganbayan for graft for allegedly favoring a cooperative in the transfer of a rice mill funded by his pork barrel.

In the graft charge, the Office of the Special Prosecutor filed one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Javier and 10 others for allegedly favoring Greater Antique Development Cooperative (Grand Coop) by transferring in 2007 a 40-ton rice mill worth P9.9 million even without any research, study, or justification for choosing the cooperative as a grantee.

The prosecutors said the rice mill was transferred to the cooperative “without any financial consideration,” even though it was intended to benefit the Patnongon municipality, “thereby giving unwarranted benefits, advantage, or preference to Grand Coop. to the damage and prejudice of the government.”

Included in the complaint are then Patnongon mayor and vice mayor Henry Mondejar and Johnny Bacongallo, and then municipal councilors Gemma Cepeda, Thomas Bacaoco, Al Brian Crespo, Felix Barrientos, Rene Cayetano, Teopisto Estaris Jr., Erika Orcasitas, and Efren Esclavilla. JE