Arraignment of ex-Puerto Princesa mayor Hagedorn postponed anew

The Sandiganbayan has postponed anew the arraignment of former Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn on cases involving his alleged failure to disclose some of his properties in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

The arraignment, scheduled on Wednesday, was canceled and reset on August 3 as the court has yet to resolve Hagedorn's urgent omnibus motion seeking to dismiss the charges against him.

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

Based on the information on his cases, Hagedorn is said to have "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 buildings 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 incorporator.

Hagedorn's arraignment was initially scheduled on April 27, but it was canceled after a minor accident prevented him from attending the proceedings.

In March, he posted a total bail of P180,000 for his temporary liberty. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ/KVD, GMA News