|
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Pampanga guv faces perjury
By Ian Ocampo Flora and Alfie R. Cristobal
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio is now facing a criminal case after a lawyer filed a complaint for perjury against him before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Tuesday.
Lawyer Elly Velez Lao Pamatong lodged the complaint against the priest-turned-governor allegedly for concealed or undeclared contributions to his (Panlilio) gubernatorial campaign in May last year.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
In the complaint, Pamatong accused Panlilio of under-declaring his expenditures and receipts of contribution.
"Contrary to law, Fr. Eddie T. Panlilio, knowingly and maliciously concealed P6,011,329.51 in political contribution and what he declared was only P4,761,699.90," Pamatong said.
In his affidavit, Pamatong said the declarations made by Panlilio under oath on his documents of contributions and total expenditures were false "as both were understated and Governor Panlilio knew them to be false."
He said Panlilio did not include what appears in the current record of the Comelec the contribution of P1 million by Lolita Hizon as evidenced by Maybank Check number 0000003586, dated April 16, 2007.
The contribution was acknowledged, according to Pamatong, by a receipt with the letterhead of "Father Ed Panlilio's Campaign for Pampanga Governor" signed by certain Lilian Limjoco.
Pamatong also cited other contributions amounting to more than P5 million, consisting of campaign materials, campaign rally expenses, food and transportation and others.
"In truth, therefore, Governor Panlilio's receipts of contributions were not only P4,761,699.90, but more, which means plus the cash of P1 million and plus the other contributions amounting to P5,011,329.51," he said.
Pamatong added that in making his (Panlilio) false report on material matter, the governor committed the crime of perjury punishable under Article 813 of the Revised Penal Code.
"Governor Panlilio understated his expenditures because had he revealed them, he would have exceeded the legally permissible expenditure and as such, he would have disqualified himself," he said.
Pamatong said he filed the case against Panlilio as a taxpayer and citizen.
He said he filed the complaint with the Comelec Legal Department in Intramorus, Manila at 11:30 a.m. last Tuesday.
When asked why it took him a long time before filing the complaint, he said it was just last week that he saw the Comelec records on Panlilio's campaign kitty.
"I want to show that the governor is pretending to be honest but he is not," Pamatong said, stressing he has no grudge with Panlilio.
Meanwhile, Panlilio's camp said the governor has not received a copy of the complaint.
For his part, Panlilio said his lawyer will comment on the matter upon receipt of the complaint.
Reacting to Pamatong's statement that he is not honest, Panlilio said: "Anyone can make a complaint against anybody but this should be substantiated. We will answer the complaint legally as soon as we get a copy." (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (June 26, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Moro rebels attack Sarangani villages