Ex-Baliuag mayor sued for breach of ethics, falsification of documents

Former Baliuag Mayor Romeo Estrella faces charges at the Sandiganbayan for breach of ethics and falsification of public documents for failing declare his relatives in government in his statement of assets and liabilities net worth (SALN).

The Office of the Special Prosecutor filed two counts of violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713) against Estrella.

He stands accused of feloniously failing to disclose in his 2011 and 2012 SALN his relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity in the government service – namely, his nephew Enrique Tagle, who was then Baliwag Polytechnic College president, and his niece Julieta Laguna, who was labor general foreman of the municipality.

Estrella’s failure to accomplish his legal obligation to submit under oath a complete “Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections and Identification of Relatives in the Government Service” in the SALN caused “damage and prejudice of public interest.”

Included in the charges are two counts of falsification of public documents under the Revised Penal Code for the aforementioned deficiencies in his 2011 and 2012 SALN.

He was accused of falsification for “feloniously mak(ing) an untruthful statement in a narration of facts, the truth of which he was legally obliged to disclose, by failing to indicate and disclose in said SALNs his relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity” in the government service.

The accused is the father of incumbent Baliuag Mayor Ferdinand Estrella. /atm/rga