Ex-Sulu vice governor pleads guilty to breach of conduct, perjury charges

Nur-Ana Indanan Sahidulla, former vice governor of the province of Sulu, has pleaded guilty to breach of conduct and perjury charges leveled against her before the Sandiganbayan Second Division in relation to the anomalies found in her 2009 Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

She was charged alongside her husband, former Banguingui mayor Abdulwahid Omar Sahidulla, for violation of Section 8 in relation to Section 11 of R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code.

In the charge sheets filed by Assistant Special Prosecutor III Jorge B. Espinal, the couple was faulted for "making a willful and deliberate assertion of falsehood in a sworn statement required to be filed under Section 7 of R.A. 3019 and Section 8 of R.A. 6713" on June 4, 2010.

They reportedly failed to declare under oath their ownership of a Toyota Hilux, a Mitsubishi L200 Strada, and a 1,500 square-meter parcel of land located in Baliwasan, Zamboanga City.

They initially made a not guilty plea. But on February 12, the two of them moved that they be allowed to withdraw their earlier pleas and change it to guilty.

The prosecution did not interpose any objection, so the anti-graft court granted their motion and rendered judgment.

For their breach of conduct charge, they were sentenced to pay a fine of P5,000. For the perjury charge, they were sentenced to the suffer the penalty of two months of arresto mayor as minimum to one year and one day of prison correctional as maximum.

The five-page resolution was penned by Chairperson Oscar Herrera Jr. with the concurrence of Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musngi and Lorifel Pahimna.