Quedancor official faces graft charges

DAVAO City– A highanking official of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) credit arm Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor) in Region 11 is facing graft charges for allegedly using government resources to oust the agency’s president in 2010.

Charged with violation of Republic Act 3019 known as Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act was JoseloBiton, regional assistant vice-president and area cluster supervisor-area 5 of Quedancor 11.

The case was pending before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 here under Executive Judge Emmanuel Carpio.

Biton was indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao based on the complaint of the employees of Quedancor 11.

In a resolution approved by Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman, Ombudsman investigator Randolph Cadiogan Jr. found sufficient evidence to hold Biton for trial in court to the offense charged.

The anti-graft agency, however, dismissed the charges against Biton’s coespondents, Quedancor Division Chief III, ChitoCifra and Senior Operations Officer Leodegario Valera Jr. due to insufficiency of evidence.

Court records showed that on June 28, 2010 to July 1, 2010, Biton had directed then Quedancor Acting Administrative Officer Joseph Gem Magalona to come up with a list of all the agency’s employees of Quedancor 11 employees and have it signed by them.

Biton was also accused of using the agency’s vehicle bearing the plate number SGL 867 in going to Kidapawan City to also sign the list in which a total of 40.83 liters of fuel was used.

Magalona declared that Biton justified that the list will be forwarded to Malacañang to determine if there were “ghost employees” in their agency.

But on July 23, 2010, Magalona received an e-mail from the staff of then Quedancor President Federico Espiritu, informing him about a petition to oust him from his post.

The petition was signed by Quedancor 11 employees. But the employees claimed that they were only deceived into signing the list believing that it would be used in connection with their employment.

In their respective counter-affidavit, Cifra and Valera stated that their intention was only to call on the administration of President Aquino to stop the Quedancor Rationalization Plan approved by the administration of President Gloria Arroyo and recommended by Espiritu.

For his part, Biton denied having knowledge of the petition to oust Espiritu and explained that the signatures were only to confirm the roster of employees of Quedancor 11. He also asserted that he used the government’s resources in furthering a legal act.

But the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao found Biton liable for allegedly deceiving employees into signing the document to oust the agency’s president and using the government’s vehicle in doing the act. (pna)