Ex-Manila councilor pleads guilty to SALN errors

A former councilor of Manila has pleaded guilty in his case at the Sandiganbayan for allegedly failing to disclose the business ventures and motor vehicle of his wife in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Former Councilor Roderick Valbuena informed the Sandiganbayan of his intention to change his earlier plea on March 1 in exchange for facing the lesser offense of violation of the code of conduct for government officials.

The Second Division allowed the re-arraignment of Valbuena after the prosecution made no objections.

"Upon being re-arraigned, accused Valbuena, assisted by Atty. Baldovino Jr., manifested that he is waiving the reading of the informations, that he understands the nature of the charges against him as well as the consequences of the waiver, and that he is pleading guilty to the lesser offense," the decision read.

The Sandiganbayan thus found Valbuena guilty beyond reasonable doubt and ordered him to pay a total fine of P10,000.

Valbuena had been charged of falsification of public documents when he "willfully and unlawfully" failed to disclose the businesses of his wife, Aileen, in his SALN for July and April 2010.

This includes the Etchetera Caffee restaurant and the cosmological courier services venture of Mrs. Valbuena and her KIA Panoramic Utility Vehicle (XGP 997). — MDM, GMA News