6,000 GMA appointees told to file true, complete SALNs

Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) chairman Constancia de Guzman yesterday warned the country’s more than 6,000 presidential appointees to file their true and complete Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 2007 to avoid disciplinary action.

"As public officials we are mandated to accomplish and submit our sworn SALN every year. This is part of our duties and responsibilities. We should not rely on our administrative staff to remind us of our obligation," De Guzman said, referring to a recent case where a suspended labor official cited the failure of his staff to remind him as his excuse for failing to submit his SALN.

Under existing laws, all public servants are required to submit their SALN to the chief of the administrative or personnel offices of their respective agencies not later than April 30 every year.

In turn, their agencies must submit all original copies of the SALN on or before June 30.

SALN should include the details of the officials’ assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests, including those of their spouses and unmarried children under 18 years of age who are living in these presidential appointees’ households.

The submission of the SALN is mandated under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713) and Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019).

Under the law, an official’s failure to file his or her sworn SALN is punishable by suspension for one month and one day to six months for the first offense and dismissal from service for the second offense (Executive Order No. 292).

The anti-graft chief also said the filing of the SALN is "a measure of the sincerity of every presidential appointee to be true to his oath as a public servant as it highlights transparency and accountability."

The requirement also helps in identifying any illegal acquisition of property or ill-gotten wealth.

"We should be an example to our subordinates," De Guzman said. "As presidential appointees we should not only be honest but above suspicion and reproach. Let’s eliminate any possible source of doubt to protect the integrity of public service."

Malacañang earlier slapped a 31-day suspension on an arbiter for the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) for failing to submit his SALN in 2002.

The suspension of labor arbiter Henry Isorena of the NLRC’s Region III office was implemented upon the recommendation of the PAGC. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita approved the PAGC resolution on Dec. 28, 2006.

The case stemmed from a complaint against the respondent received by PAGC for ill-gotten wealth.

An investigation revealed that Isorena failed to file his SALN for 2002. The defendant’s assets for 2002 include two parcels of land, both located at the Bagbaguin, Meycauayan, Bulacan; a Delica Passenger Van, a 1977 Mitsubishi Gallant Sigma and a Honda City.

Besides pleading sickness and work overload, Isorena also faulted the NLRC Region III Administrative Department’s failure to remind him to file his SALN in 2002.

The PAGC decided that Isorena’s reasons regarding his health and workload "are unmeritorious, and his reliance on the review and compliance procedure of their administrative division unjustifiable," the agency said in a statement.

De Guzman said review and compliance procedures were established to check whether the SALN is properly accomplished: "This does not mean that the personnel implementing these are tasked by law to remind public officers of their duty to file their SALN."

Isorena’s suspension has brought to 14 the number of presidential appointees who were either dismissed or suspended by the Palace in 2006.

She said the PAGC has processed a total of 488 complaints. Some 17 percent or 85 cases were resolved and forwarded to the Office of the President (OP) for final resolution, while 36 percent or 175 cases are still under investigation.

The rest of the presidential appointees who were subjects of complaints, around 45 percent, were dismissed outright because they did not fall under the jurisdiction of the commission, or had their cases forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman.

De Guzman said the PAGC’s plan this year focuses on four key areas of prevention, education, deterrence and strategic partnership.

She said in investigation and enforcement or under deterrence, the commission aims to endorse two resolutions per week or 10 resolutions each month, with at least 50 percent of these cases carrying punitive recommendations to the OP.

The PAGC will work for closer coordination with the reviewing body from the OP to ensure that at least one case will be resolved a week and forge agreements with the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police for information sharing and surveillance of suspected officials.