Ex-Pangasinan mayor found guilty of falsification of document

The Sandiganbayan has found a former mayor of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan guilty of falsification of public document for signing a marriage certificate that he did not solemnize.

In a 44-page decision promulgated on August 26, the anti-graft court said Artemio Que Chan violated Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code. He was sentenced to a minimum of two years and four months to a maximum of eight years and one day imprisonment.

The court said the accessory penalties of temporary absolute disqualification for public office and perpetual disqualification from right to suffrage were also imposed.

Chan was also directed to pay a fine of P5,000.

“In sum, the Prosecution established the guilt of the Accused beyond reasonable doubt based on his own previous admissions as bolstered by the testimonies made by the principal sponsors and the photograph of the wedding,” the court said.

“His change of theory and later assertion that he was the one who solemnized the marriage could not obliterate his liability,” it added.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by couple Andy and Mary Jane Dela Rosa who said that it was not then-mayor Chan who performed the marriage ceremony for them but his son, then-vice mayor Kelvin Chan, who solemnized it.

In a joint counter-affidavit, Chan said he received an emergency call stating that his mother was taken seriously ill and that it was Kelvin Chan who solemnized the marriage in good faith. Chan said he signed the marriage certificate that was left on his table.

However, he later dismissed the admissions of the joint counter-affidavit on the basis that the affidavit was solely prepared by his previous counsel and that he signed the document without reading it.

“Such claim, however, cannot be considered. As Ladiana vs. People espoused, the accused is bound by the admission he made on his Counter-Affidavit since it was not an extrajudicial confession made under custodial investigation,” the court said.

GMA News Online reached out to Chan, through the social media account of his son Kelvin, for comment but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.—AOL, GMA News