Ex-Antique governor charged with graft over P531 million project

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March 13, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A former governor of Antique and eight other officials of the provincial government are facing graft charges over alleged irregularities invoving the construction of the Antique Government Center worth P531.2 million.

The complaint against former Antique governor Rhodora Cadiao and her co-defendants – provincial accountant Esther Minnie Julian, treasurer Joyce Suriaga and engineer Inocencio Dajao Jr. as well as bids and awards committee officials Nicolasito Calawag Jr., Nery Duremdes, Rachel Gindap, Bienvenido Nallos Jr. and Ren Oberio – was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Jon Sherwin Pacete and Wilson Geronimo.

Private contractor F. Guerra Construction Inc. was also among the defendants in the case.

The complainants alleged that the defendants violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as well as committed falsification and technical malversation.

They claimed that the project was constructed on a property classified as agricultural in Barangay Badiang, San Jose de Buenavista.

The complainants said Cadiao requested the reclassification of the property for institutional usage, but her move was denied.

The National Irrigation Administration identified some portions of the property as part of an existing irrigation service area.

Despite the issues, the construction proceeded and reached 30-percent completion in January 2025.

The complainants said the municipal government stopped the construction for violation of the National Building Code and lack of permit.

They questioned the release of P531.2 million in “mobilization and partial progress payments” to the contractor even as the project was not completed.