Sandiganbayan issues another arrest order vs. ex-CamNorte governor

The Sandiganbayan's First Division has again ordered the arrest of actor and former Camarines Norte governor Casimiro “Roy” Padilla Jr., who was convicted of malversation of public funds in 2012.

 

“You are hereby commanded to arrest Casimiro “Roy” A. Padilla Jr. [with] address Happy Homes Subdivision, Daet, Camarines Norte, and who is convicted of malversation of public property…and to bring him before us as soon as possible, to be dealt with as the law and the Rules of Court direct,” read the arrest order dated October 12, 2015.

 

The arrest order was addressed to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation.

 

The First Division issued the second arrest order against Padilla after a concerned citizen from Camarines Norte informed the Supreme Court (SC) that the former governor remain at large despite his conviction by the anti-graft court in November 2012 as well as the SC’s denial of his appeal in April 2014.

 

“The records of the case show that the denial of the petition of the accused before the Supreme Court, had indeed, become final and executory on April 29, 2014…In view, however, of the statement made by Mr. Lurcha that the accused remains actively visible in Camarines Norte, the Court hereby directs the issuance of an Alias Warrant of Arrest against the accused,” the First Division said in a minute resolution dated October 7, but made available to the media only on Wednesday.

 

In a resolution dated Nov. 27, 2012, the First Division found Padilla guilty of malversation of public funds for his failure to return to the provincial government a .45 caliber pistol and ammunitions amounting to P7,462 issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 1992 during his term as governor.

 

He was sentenced to four years and two months of imprisonment.

 

Padilla appealed the anti-graft court’s ruling before the high tribunal but the SC sided with the Sandiganbayan in April last year.

 

Following the SC’s final ruling, the First Division issued an arrest order against Padilla on July 31, 2014.

 

However, in a recent letter addressed to SC Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, a private citizen named Erwin Lurcha, informed the court that Padilla, "is still actively visible in Camarines Norte."

 

"In fact he publicly manifested that he is running as Congressman of the Second District of Camarines Norte,” Lurcha, a resident of Daet town in Camarines Norte, said in his letter dated October 5.

 

The SC, in turn, furnished the First Division with a copy of the letter.

 

The former governor is the brother of action star Robin Padilla. —ALG, GMA News