Village exec gets slap on wrist for failing to file 2006 SALN

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CEBU CITY, Philippines — A former village official in Roxas City, Capiz, received a slap on the wrist for failing to submit his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in 2006.

Jessie Salgado was ordered to pay a fine of P1,000 after the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) found him guilty of violating Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, when he was barangay chair of Tiza, Roxas.

The decision by MTCC Judge Francisco Seville Jr. was issued on March 12 but was released only last Thursday, two days after Chief Justice Renato Corona was found guilty by the Senate impeachment court of failing to disclose all his assets in his SALN. Corona was automatically removed from the Supreme Court.

Salgado’s penalty was lowered from the usual fine of up to P5,000 and imprisonment of up to five years, or both, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Reached for comment in Capiz, Salgado said he thought it unfair that he was the only one charged when all the barangay officials of Tiza had not been filing their SALNs.

He said the case against him was politically motivated, believing that it was initiated by a political opponent he defeated in the 2007 elections.

Salgado beat Teddy Albaladejo Jr. in the barangay polls that year. He, however, lost to Teddy’s uncle, Alfredo Albaladejo, when he ran for reelection in 2010.

Court records showed a complaint was filed against Salgado in April 2007 in the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in Cebu City accusing him of not filing his SALN for 2006 in violation of Section 8 of RA 6713.

The law provides that all public officials and employees must accomplish and submit declarations under oath of their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests, including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years living in their households.

The SALN must be submitted by April 30 of each year to the Ombudsman-Visayas through the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The Ombudsman-Visayas indicted Salgado and elevated the case to the MTCC on July 4, 2008.

Salgado pleaded guilty to the charge during arraignment. Judge Seville then ordered him to pay a fine of P1,000 in a decision dated March 12, 2012.

The judge said in an interview with the Cebu Daily News that he lowered Salgado’s penalty since he pleaded guilty to the offense.  With a report from Felipe Celino, Inquirer Visayas