Court orders airport watch for ex-police exec Matillano

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the chiefs of the Bureau of Immigration airport operations division and immigration regulation division to prevent retired police official Eduardo Matillano from leaving the country for failing to submit accurate statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) from 1994 to 2000 and 2004.

In its order issued on Friday, the antigraft court’s Second Division directed the two agencies to ensure that the hold-departure order against Matillano would be implemented.

The former chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was charged with three counts of perjury and eight indictments for irregular declarations in his SALNs, which is punishable under Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The prosecution recommended a total of P98,000 in bonds for Matillano—P10,000 each for the eight counts of violations of RA 6713 and P6,000 for each count of perjury.

The multiple charges against Matillano were filed by Assistant Special Prosecutor II Honorio Ebora Jr. and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Sept. 28, 2012.

The perjury cases were based on alleged omissions in Matillano’s disclosure of his combined assets with his wife, Elizabeth, in his SALNs for 2001, 2002 and 2003.—Cynthia D. Balana