"Wakee" might face perjury case in court

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office has recommended the filing of perjury case in the courts against boxing promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud.

"After a thorough evaluation of the evidences submitted by the parties herein, undersigned finds that there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that a crime of perjury has been committed and that respondent is probably guilty thereof and should be held for trial," state prosecutor Marvin dela Peña ruled.

Cordova town Mayor Adelino Sitoy earlier filed a complaint in the Prosecutor's Office after respondent filed a second application for registration due to change of residence with the Election Registrar of  Cordova, Cebu on October 31, 2012.

He said respondent has an alleged attempt to mislead the Election Registration Board.

Aside from that, he said respondent has claimed to be a resident of barangay Cogon, Cordova town for one year and 11 months or from November 30, 2010 to October 31, 2012.

However, Sitoy alleged the information in the application of Salud was falsified.

Sitoy said even if there was a court order affirming the decision of the Election Registration Board disapproving Salud's application for transfer, he still appeared before the Comelec Registrar of  Cordova with a new application in relation to his residence claiming he has been residing in Cogon for one year and 11 months.

Salud in his counter-affidavit denied the allegation.

"The one year and eleven months period already included the period wherein he (I) began to stay intermittently, albeit with the intent to reside permanently, in Cordova… but within the one year and two months period, respondent was already frequenting his (my) residence and had already established business ties in said locality but it was only during the ninth month that he (I) stayed permanently, this nine-month residency is supported by the affidavits of several witnesses," Salud stated.

With the foregoing evidence, Dela Peña said all elements of perjury are present in the herein case.

In fact, he said the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) Consolacion-Cordova which declared that respondent did not have the legal residence required of him as a voter of Cordova, which ruling was affirmed by the Regional Trial Court and became final and executory. (FREEMAN)