The Sandiganbayan has convicted former Puerto Princesa mayor Edward S. Hagedorn of malversation of public property involving unaccounted 14 pieces of Armalite rifles in 2013.
Hagedorn was sentenced to two to seven years imprisonment with perpetual disqualification from holding public office and loss of all retirement or gratuity benefits under the law.
He was likewise ordered to pay P490,000, and to return to the Bureau of Treasury P35,000.
Case records showed that on July 1, 2013, Hagedorn failed to account for 14 Armalite rifles valued at P490,000.
Twenty firearms were issued to Hagedorn but only six of them were returned to the city government at the end of his term on June 30, 2013.
In his defense, Hagedorn told the anti-graft court that the firearms were assigned to his security detail and personnel, who have actual custody of the firearms.
But the court said: "Accused Hagedorn is deemed to be the 'head' of his office. The mere fact that accused Hagedorn knowingly and willingly signed the memorandum of receipt for semi-expendable and non-expendable supplies or property and declared himself as the person 'immediately accountable' to the 20 firearms received by his office, accused Hagedorn is now barred in denying otherwise."
The anti-graft court pointed out that even if the firearms were assigned to his security detail, it will not remove Hagedorn’s accountability for the firearms.
Despite demands to return the firearms, the court said that Hagedorn failed to comply. Thus, the court said, his failure is already prima facie evidence that he has put such missing property to personal use.
Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno wrote the 48-page decision dated June 30, 2023, with the concurrence of Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Bernelito R. Fernandez.