Former Iloilo lawmaker, common-law wife post bail

A former congressman of Iloilo and his common-law wife posted yesterday a total bail of P144,000 for six counts of falsification of public documents — five for the former and one for the latter — which the Office of the Ombudsman filed against them with the Sandiganbayan.

Former Iloilo Rep. Albertito Lopez and his common-law wife, former Guimaras Gov. Imelda "Emily" Relucio, posted their bail at about 11 a.m. yesterday at the Sandiganbayan’s second division chaired by Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval.

The case against Relucio stemmed from her declaration in her statement of assets and liabilities (SAL) for the year 1993, that she is Lopez’s lawful wife. She posted a P24,000 bail.

Lopez, on the other hand, was charged with five counts of falsification of public documents, for which he paid a total bail of P120,000.

Graft investigation officer II Euphemia Bacalso said that on March 23, 1992, Lopez allegedly falsified his certificate of candidacy for representative of Iloilo’s second district when he also declared that Relucio is his lawful wife.

Bacalso said Lopez’s lawful wife is Angelina Mejia Lopez.

He said Lopez also declared that Relucio is his lawful wife on March 25, 1992 when he filed his income tax return for 1991 in Makati City, and on July 24, 1992 when he submitted his SAL for the year 1991.

Bacalso said Lopez also made the same declaration in the biodata he submitted to the House of Representatives from July to December 1992.

Lopez and Relucio both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Sandiganbayan issued warrants for their arrest on April 9, 2000 but they managed to prevent their being served by filing several motions and manifestations.