Nation

Legarda denies SALN issue, calls it 'black propaganda'

Louis Bacani - The Philippine Star

May 2, 2013 | 3:13pm

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Loren Legarda on Thursday denied the allegation that she failed to disclose in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) a piece of real property in the United States, saying this is just black propaganda aiming to pull down her election survey rating.

"Hindi po ako magtatago sa anomang anomalya dahil ako po ay naglilingkod ng tapat sa bayan. Isa po itong black propaganda dahil di po ako natitinag sa pagiging number one," Legarda said.

The senator was reacting to the accusations of Louis â€œBarokâ€ Biraogo, a â€œpublic interest advoÂcate" who claimed that Legarda bought a condominium unit at 77 Park Avenue, New York City on May 9, 2006.

But he alleged that Legarda did not declare in her SALN from 2007 to 2011 the said property, which was purchased by the senator for US$700,000, paid in cash and in full within a single day.

But according to Legarda, the questioned New York property was already included on the SALN she filed in June 30, 2007.

She said it was described as "Other Investment" in Annex A, in the amount of P 7.17 million "equal to one-fourth of the total investment in the acquisition of apartment amounting to P28,700,000."

"Beginning Dec. 31, 2007 up to Dec. 31, 2010, the same property was also included on the SALN described as 'Equity in Real Property', also one-fourth of the total P28,700,000," Legarda said.

She added that as of Dec. 31, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2012, the New York property was also included in her SALN described as "Real Property-USA."

Legarda said it is "deplorable" that some people, possibly even fellow candidates, could engage in such "gutter politics" to divert people from the real issues.

"It's political season and I have survived to answer clearly all the black propaganda hurled against me. I challenge the source of all this to come clean. I ask other candidates to stick to what we as candidates can do to address the problems facing the country," Legarda said.

According to Biraogo, a graduate of the University of the Philippines, he had interest to uncover Legarda's documents when he learned that the senator will be honored by their alma mater as a distinguished alumna.

He said he obtained documents from the â€œonline records sectionâ€ of the Office of the Register of Property Deeds of New York City.