Sandiganbayan allows Tawi-Tawi Rep. Sahali-Tan to join 4th round of GRP-NDF talks

The Sandiganbayan has once again allowed Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali-Tan to travel to The Netherlands in April to participate in the fourth round of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

In her motion, which the anti-graft court's Sixth Division granted on Monday, Sahali-Tan asked the Sandiganbayan to allow her to travel to the Netherlands from April 1 to 20.

The lawmaker, who chairs the House committee on peace, reconciliation and unity, said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process formally invited her to the event.

The peace talks will be from April 2 to 6, but Sahali-Tan said she will also be going to Italy, United Kingdom and France from April 7 to 20 to visit the Filipino communities there.

She promised to return to the country on or before April 21.

Sahali-Tan has been charged with six counts of violating Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for failing to file her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) under oath or on time as vice governor of Tawi-Tawi from 2008 to 2013.

She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News