Ex-Zamboanga del Norte mayor pleads guilty to not filing SALN in 2013

Ceasar Soriano, former mayor of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, admitted before the Sandiganbayan that he failed to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) within 30 days after the end of his term in 2013.

Soriano manifested in open court on January 8 during a hearing that he wanted to change his plea of “not guilty” to “guilty" for violating Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act No. 6713.

RA 6713, Section 8 states that public officials and employees must declare through SALN their assets, liabilities, net worth, business interest and financial connections.

Officials must also include in the disclosure under oath the same items owned by their spouse and unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their household.

Public officials are obliged to file SALNs 30 days after assuming office, on or before April 30 every year while in the service, or 30 days after leaving their posts.

These must be filed with the chief or head of the personnel/administrative division or unit/human resource management office. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News