Ex-Marikina councilor charged over non-declaration of business interests 

A former councilor of Marikina City has been charged before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged failure to declare his business interests in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) from 2006 to 2009.

In separate charge sheets filed by the Office of the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), former Marikina councilor Hilario Punzalan was charged with four counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Based on the information of the cases, Punzalan, “in utter disregard of his official obligation,” failed to declare his business interests and financial connections with 10 EN 1 Trading, Inc. and River City Marketing and Trading Enterprises, Inc. in his SALNs for 2006 to 2009 “which the law requires to be declared therein.”
 
The OSP recommended P10,000 bail bond for each count of the charged offense in exchange for Punzalan’s provisional liberty.

Section 8 of RA 6713 mandates each public official and employee to declare his or her assets, liabilities and net worth as well as financial and business interests including those of his or her spouse and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households. The declarations must be contained in a SALN that should be filed on or before April 30 every year.

Punzalan is seeking re-election in the Second District of Marikina in the upcoming May elections, running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition. —Elizabeth Marcelo/KBK, GMA News