THE Office of the Ombudsman has indicted a Maguindanao mayor for untruthful declaration of his assets in 2011 until 2015.
The Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Talitay Mayor Montaser Sabal for five counts each of violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act No. 6713 or and Section 7 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act Republic Act No. 3019 for his untruthful statements in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2011 to 2015.
Sabal misrepresented the contents of his SALNs when he failed to disclose his ownership of 13 firearms; four vehicles—a Hummer, a Ford Ranger pick-up, a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Toyota Hilux; and four business interests located in Datu Odin Sinsuat and Talitay, Maguindanao.
He also failed to disclose the purchase price of each real property mentioned in his SALNs.
In a Counter-Affidavit, he blamed his staff for the non-declaration of his firearms, and asserted that his businesses were just small ventures.
He said his vehicles were acquired through a chattel mortgage, thus, unnecessary to be included in the SALNs.
“The law on SALN is clear that all assets of a public officer, including those of his or her spouse, must be declared. There is no mention that where the value of the property was insignificant or the mode of acquisition was by loan, the declarant has the option not to disclose,” the resolution read.