Resident contests village councilman’s net worth

CEBU, Philippines - A barangay Dumlog, Talisay City resident, through a letter, has asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to check for discrepancies the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) barangay Dumlog Councilman Gilbert Cañizares has submitted.

But Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol referred the letter to the Talisay City council for investigation.

City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, the chairman of the committee on laws, told The Freeman he will invite Cañizares to answer the complaint.

Based on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government for 2011, Cañizares declared P600 as his net worth.

Dumlog falls under the average income barangay category, with councilmen receiving a monthly honorarium of P12,000.

Cañizares declared only a cellphone, pants, and polo shirts worth P14,600, and liabilities of P12,000.

But the complainant alleged that Cañizares gave the impression that he is the poorest barangay councilor.

“We file this complaint on the basis of his deceit of the constituents of barangay Dumlog, of the entire City of Talisay, and of the general Filipino populace in general,” the complainant claimed.

The filing of the SALN mandates all government employees to declare their financial status.

It is a comprehensive record of a government worker’s assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests, and financial connections, including those of their spouse and unmarried children below 18 years old. (FREEMAN)