BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/09 May) – Congressional bet Roberto “Bob” Aquino of the lone district of Agusan del Sur is facing arrest for allegedly falsifying a document.
The warrant of arrest for Aquino was issued Friday afternoon by the Municipal Trial Court in Prosperidad, but has not been served due to three successive non-working days including Monday’s nationwide elections.
Win or lose in his bid for the congressional seat, Aquino, elder brother of reelectionist Butuan City Congressman Jose Aquino of Lakas-Kampi CMD, will be facing charges of perjury.
The case against Aquino was filed by Arnel Tugasan who claimed Aquino has “never resided or lived” in Barangay Poblacion in Bayugan City.
The complainant testified that Aquino declared and “presented under oath” his certificate of candidacy stating his residence is at “Taglatawan, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur”. However, Tugasan noted that Aquino’s voter certificate showed that his “address is at Purok 12, Poblacion, Bayugan City.”
In his application for transfer of registration dated Dec. 16 2008, Aquino declared that he is residing at 084 Guavano St., Purok 12, Poblacion in Bayugan City.
In his complaint, Tugasan said “Roberto Sabijon Aquino has never lived in Purok 12, Barangay Poblacion.” He added that he had” never seen” Aquino live in 084 Guavano St. of Purok 12.
In his five-page resolution dated May 6, Prosecutor Felix Mesa explained that there are two ways of committing perjury and they are “by falsely testifying under oath and by making false affidavit”.
Mesa said Aquino’s “certificate of candidacy for representative is a document which is under oath before a notary public”.
Mesa’s resolution said “it’s a document necessary for a candidate in an election to be filed before the Commission on Election such that the candidate can legally run for an office in an elective position’.
The Prosecutor said “these are false statement considering that in his voter’s certificate his place of birth is Butuan City and his address in voter’s certification is Purok 12, Poblacion, Bayugan City, which is also false.”
Aquino could not be reached for comment. (Alden Pantaleon, Jr./MindaNews)