Sandiganbayan allows solon to join peace talks with Reds

The Sandiganbayan has allowed Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali-Tan to join the fourth round of peace talks with the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines in The Netherlands next week.

The court’s Sixth Division permitted the lawmaker, who chairs the House committee on peace, reconciliation and unity, to leave the country from April 1 to April 20.

Tan will attend the resumption of peace negotiations, which will be held in Noordwijk from April 2 to 6.

Afterward, she planned to visit Filipino communities in France, Italy and the United Kingdom from April 7 to 20.

No financial statements

She assured the court that she would return to the Philippines on April 21.

Tan faces six counts of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for allegedly failing to abide by asset disclosure rules.

She was accused of failing to file her financial statements under oath or on time when she was the vice governor of Tawi-Tawi from 2008 to 2013.