Fuentebella faces charges for hiding assets

MANILA, Philippines – House Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella is facing charges of graft, perjury, and falsification of public documents for alleged “deliberate failure” to declare ownership of some 22 properties covering almost 36 hectares in his 2011 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

In an eight-page complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, Francisco Ramirez Tria III – a former town councilor and an officer of a development cooperative in Sangay, Camarines Sur – also accused the lawmaker of violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Tria’s complaint is dated Aug. 17, 2012.

Fuentebella, representing the 4th district of Camarines Sur, reportedly only declared ownership of a residential building acquired in 2002 for P185,116 and another residential building acquired for P3.2 million but with no acquisition date indicated.

He also declared ownership of two agricultural properties acquired in 2002 through inheritance and classified as “capital.”

Tria attached as annexes to his complaint copies of land titles to 16 properties in Sagnay, Tigaon and San Jose acquired by Fuentebella from 2003 to 2009. The properties cover more than 22 hectares.

Fuentebella, based on Tria’s complaint, also did not declare in his SALN three properties in Tigaon and in Sagnay inherited from his parents and covering almost six hectares.

He also reportedly failed to declare three properties in Goa registered in the name of his wife Evelyn, who is Sagnay mayor.

Tria said Fuentebella’s failure to declare some of his properties could not have been plain negligence considering the number and vastness of the properties not included in his SALN.

“There can be no conclusion than that of willful or deliberate omission, misdeclaration or non-declaration of the above enumerated lots in respondent’s SALN,” the complaint read.

Tria asserted the lawmaker “willfully” did not include the properties in his SALN in violation of Section 7 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which requires the filing of “true detailed sworn statement of assets and liabilities.” Fuentebella’s incomplete SALN reporting, Tria said, was also a violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and Employees, penalizing the reporting of incomprehensive and deceitful details in SALN.

Tria said the lawmaker should also be held liable for falsification of public documents as well as for perjury for making erroneous and fabricated statements in his SALN.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman has filed perjury charges against a retired major general of the Philippine Army for his alleged false declarations in his SALN.

Reynaldo Alcasid was also charged before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Investigators led by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer (GIPO) Dyna Camba recommended the indictment of Alcasid. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the recommendation last Aug. 22.

Alcasid retired in 2004 after serving as commanding general of the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army under the Northern Luzon Command.

The case against him stemmed from his alleged “deliberate assertion of falsehood in his SALN” by not declaring ownership of a house in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City along with a $62,000 loan from private sources. The case against Alcasid was based on a complaint filed by the Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.