Hagedorn posts bail in perjury case

Former Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Former Puerto Princesa mayor Edward Hagedorn on Monday posted a P180,000 bail for perjury, graft, and ethical breach charges for his alleged false declarations of wealth in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities Networth (SALN).

The media were not able to go near Hagedorn, who was surrounded by bodyguards in  posting of bail at the Sandiganbayan.
Hagedorn posted bail ahead of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division’s finding of probable cause to hold him on trial.

READ: Hagedorn charged with perjury over false SALN declarations
The Office of the Special Prosecutor filed nine counts each of perjury and graft against Hagedorn for his failure to declare 59 residential, agricultural, and commercial properties, as well as 45 vehicles (including motorcycles, luxury vehicles such as Volvo, Toyota Landcruiser, BMW, and other sports utility vehicles).
READ: Hagedorn faces perjury charges for alleged false SALN declaration

Hagedorn allegedly failed to disclose his business interests in the firms Palawan Jolly Foods Corporation, Puerto Princesa Broadcasting Corporation, Puerto Prince Bee Foods Corporation, Green Forest Blue Waters Corporation, Radiant Home Land Development, Inc., and Hagedorn Travel and Tours, Inc.

Besides  graft and perjury, the prosecutors also filed nine counts of violations of Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, for his non-filing of truthful SALNs.

According to the charge sheet for nine counts of violations of Section 7 of the anti-graft law, Hagedorn “unlawfully and criminally failed to truthfully and accurately declare in his SALN the real properties, motor vehicles and corporate/business interests that he in fact owns” for the years 2004-2012.

Hagedorn “concealed information about his ownership of real and personal properties by failing to accurately declare them in his SALNs,” the Ombudsman earlier said in its indictment of Hagedorn.

“(A)n examination of respondent’s SALN from 2004 to 2012 would reveal that, during the said years, he declared only three real properties located in Puerto Princesa City and one real property located in Parañaque City as his own… (B)y any standard, the disparity between the number of realties registered in respondent’s name and that declared in his SALNs is too significant to be dismissed,” the Ombudsman said.

The Ombudsman said tax declarations submitted during the preliminary investigations show that Hagedorn has more than three real properties registered under his name – five buildings, four commercial lands, 10 agriculture lands, and 40 residential lands.

Public officials are required to submit truthful and accurate SALNs according to Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Failure to declare a truthful statement of wealth is punishable with a five-year imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding P5,000 according to Republic Act 6713.

Meanwhile, a person commits perjury by deliberately making an untruthful statement in a document required by law to be sworn before any public officer, the Ombudsman said.

The prosecutors recommended the bail amount of P4,000  for each count of graft, P6,000 for each count of perjury, and P10,000 for each count of ethical breach, for a total bail amount of  P180,000. CBB/rga