Ex-deputy ombudsman convicted of perjury over misdeclared SALN

MANILA, Philippines–The Sandiganbayan Second Division has convicted a former deputy Ombudsman for false declaration of wealth in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

In a decision, the anti-graft court found Overall Deputy Ombudsman Margarito Gervacio Jr. guilty beyond reasonable doubt of perjury.

The court sentenced him to four months and one-day imprisonment, mainly due to the mitigating circumstance of him pleading guilty to the charge against him.

“It appears that the guilty plea was entered into deliberately and with full knowledge of its effects… With the application of the mitigating circumstance of plea of guilty, the court hereby finds the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of perjury,” the decision read.

The court said Gervacio may still enjoy provisional liberty under the bail he posted.

Gervacio was accused of failing to declare in his 1998-2005 SALNs two houses he had constructed in Davao City through a P4-million loan from the Philippine National Bank and the Philippine Postal Savings Bank.

Gervacio was charged of misdeclaring his assets even though he swore under oath on the truthfulness of his SALN.

In recommending the filing of the case, the Office of the Ombudsman said the house in Mintal, Davao City, was reflected in Gervacio’s 2004 SALN, but not in the 2003 SALN, even though it was built in 1999.

“The records of the case are bereft of any explanation from the respondent why the residential house was not included in his SALN for the year 2003 when the same was built as early as 1999,” it said.

In 2012, former Chief Justice Renato Corona was ousted by Congress on charges of false declaration of wealth in his SALN.

Corona also faces eight counts of perjury as well as a forfeiture case with his wife Cristina for their failure to declare numerous peso and dollar bank accounts in his 2003-2010 SALNs, a condominium unit at The Columns in Makati in his 2004-2009 SALN, and a condominium unit at Spanish Bay Tower in Taguig in his 2005-2009 SALN.

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