Ex-Palawan Mayor Hagedorn charged for allegedly failing to declare properties in SALN

The Office of the Ombudsman has formally filed charges against former Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn for allegedly failing to disclose some of his properties in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Hagedorn is facing nine counts each of violation of Section 7 of RA 3019, Section 8 of RA 6713, and perjury.

In the charge sheets filed before the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman alleged that Hagedorn "unlawfully and criminally" failed to detail several of his real properties, motor vehicles and business interests in his sworn SALN for 2004 to 2012.

These include several residential and commercial building in Puerto Princesa City, motorcycle and sports utility vehicles, the Palawan Jolly Foods Corporation, Puerto Princesa Broadcasting Corporation, Green Forest Blue Waters Corporation and Hagedorn Travel and Tours Inc.—all of which list Hagedorn as an incorporator—the Ombudsman said.

Section 7 of RA 3019 states that public officers should submit "a true, detailed sworn SALN, including a statement of the amounts and sources of his income, the amounts of his personal and family expenses and the amount of income taxes paid for the next preceding calendar year."

Meanwhile, Section 8 of RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials Employees, requires public officials to "submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests."

The Ombudsman has recommended a total of P190,000 bailbond—P4,000 for each count of violation of Section 7 of RA 3019, P10,000 for each count of violation of Section 8 of RA 6713, and P6,000 for each count of perjury.

For his part, Hagedorn insisted that he declared his said assets in his SALN, except that it was not itemized.

"Sinummarize ko. Nag-submit sila ng ebidensya. Napakarami raw property na hindi ko dineclare. Pero kapag in-add lahat, eksakto to the last centavo. So hindi ako nagloko," Hagedorn said in a 24 Oras report on Monday. —KG, GMA News