News Briefs: Hagedorn posts bail on undeclared assets case

Former Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn has posted a P180,000-bail at the Sandiganbayan as he faces 27 criminal charges for his alleged failure to disclose numerous properties and business interests.

The Office of the Ombudsman on March 17 charged Hagedorn for allegedly making false representations in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for the years 2004 to 2012 when he was city mayor.

The undeclared properties include 59 properties with a total land area of 132.57 hectares.

These properties are scattered around 22 barangay in the city and include 40 residential lots, 10 agricultural lots, four commercial lots, three residential buildings, and two commercial buildings.

Hagedorn also failed to declare his position as incorporator, president, board member or stockholder of four firms—Palawan Jolly Foods Corp., Puerto Princesa Broadcasting Corp., Green Forest Blue Waters Corp., and Hagedorn Travel and Tours, Inc.—for his 2004 to 2008 SALNs.—Vince F. Nonato

BI to deport elderly South Korean exec

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will be deporting an elderly South Korean national who was convicted of violating the Bouncing Check Law two decades ago.

BI spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said they would be implementing the decision of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to deport 74-year-old Kang Tae Sick, a businessman.

Previous attempts to deport Kang, who has been based in the country for 38 years, failed due to the granting of his appeals to lift the deportation order.

Kang was arrested last March 23 following the reinstatement of the warrant of deportation against him by Aguirre in relation to the Korean’s conviction on two counts of violation of the Bouncing Check Law in 1993.
Kang is currently detained at a BI detention facility. —Julie M. Aurelio

Police arrests Indian national in kidnapping

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group has arrested an Indian national whose group was accused of abducting Indian businessmen in the country.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa identified the alleged mastermind of the group as Gurmeet Singh, who was hospitalized after being injured when he was arrested.

“I am pleased to announce the neutralization of a kidnapping for ransom syndicate led by a Indian national that victimizes his fellow Indians who are doing business in the country,” Dela Rosa said in a press briefing. Dela Rosa also presented to the media Singh’s co-accused: Filipinos Jerry C. Cabading, Francis C. Castro and Gregorio M. Peña.

Singh’s group was accused of kidnapping businessman Harvinder Singh on March 9 in Barangay Sta. Barbara, Llanera, Nueva Ecija.

The police rescued Harvinder on March 25 after his family sought the help of the police. Another leader of the group, identified as Kikker Singh, remains at large.—Philip C. Tubeza

COA nixes additional pay for ex-Honolulu consul

The Commission on Audit (COA) has denied the bid of former Honolulu Consul-General Rolando Gregorio to be paid an additional P2.04 million in salaries and allowances during the time he extended his tenure beyond his retirement.

But the COA said Gregorio could not have rendered government services from Jan. 1 to June 17, 2005, because he did not have the Office of the President’s (OP) approval to continue working past his retirement on April 17, 2004.

It gave weight to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ 2015 statement that Gregorio only rendered actual service until Dec. 31, 2004, which was covered by OP authorization.

Gregorio claimed P119,487.50 in unpaid salary and P1.92 million in overseas allowance and living quarters allowance for the period of Jan. 1 to June 17, 2005. —Vince F. Nonato