Sandiganbayan Orders Arrest Warrant to North Cotabato Gov. Mendoza

The country’s anti-graft court, Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of the controversial North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza for the 3 graft charges pending against her. Based upon the arrest warrant issued by Sandiganbayan, it was signed by four members of the anti-graft court’s First Division on Tuesday, April 26. The court found probable cause in the earlier graft complaints filed against the governor by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Gov. Mendoza

The warrant of arrest issued against the Governor of North Cotabato came more than 2 weeks after the Office of the Ombudsman filed corruption charges against Governor Mendoza who made headlines earlier because of viral video wherein she promised to stop any aid from various groups and political personalities affected by the Kidapawan rally.

Gov. Mendoza was accused by the Sandiganbayan due to corruption charges against the governor over findings she used government funds to buy diesel worth P2.4 million from a gasoline station owned by her mother.

Mendoza was charged with 3 counts of violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices law. The charges are bailable, and she will be asked to pay P30,000 for each count, court officials said.

During the controversial Kidapawan dispersal of farmers rallying for government aid, the farmers group also accused the North Cotabato governor for ignoring their demand for sacks of rice in the wake of the drought in the region.

According to the case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, the governor allegedly approved the released of P2.4 million from provincial coffers to pay for 49,526.72 liters of fuel used during a two-day road repair project. The governor allegedly did not conduct any bidding and instead contracted the Taliño Shell Station, which is owned by her mother.

Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza is running for reelection on May 9, 2016 local and national elections under the ruling Liberal Party of the Philippines headed by their standard-bearer Mar Roxas for President and his running mate, Rep. Leni Robredo for Vice President.

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