Businesswoman accuses Panlilio of perjury

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – A former supporter of Gov. Ed Panlilio in the 2007 elections has filed a perjury case against him for allegedly “concealing” her P1-million campaign contribution from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Businesswoman Lolita Hizon, whose family owns Pampanga’s Best and dubbed as a “tocino magnate,” filed the case with the city prosecutor’s office last Friday, naming Agnes Romero, Lilian Limjoco and Roperlee Syquia as witnesses.

In her complaint-affidavit, Hizon said that on April 15, 2007, Pampanga’s Best contributed P1 million to Panlilio’s campaign kitty.

Hizon said a Maybank check for this amount was handed out to Romero, one of Panlilio’s finance officers in 2007, and it was acknowledged through a receipt of contribution issued by Limjoco.

She said she was later informed that the contribution was made known to Panlilio, who in turn expressed his gratefulness.

But Hizon said the receipt she received was not under her name and merely stated “anonymous” despite her request to Panlilio’s camp for correction.

She cited Section 7 (b) of Comelec Resolution No. 7794 that a candidate for governor without any political party and without support from any political party can spend only an aggregate amount of P5 million.

Panlilio allegedly declared only 57 contributors to his political campaign. Many of his supporters alleged that other donors were not listed in the report that he submitted to the Comelec provincial office.

Hizon accused Panlilio of violating Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code and the Omnibus Election Code.

Panlilio, however, said his legal team is ready to answer the perjury case.