Tawi-Tawi lawmaker pleads guilty to SALN violations

Tawi-Tawi lone district Rep. Ruby Sahali-Tan has pleaded guilty to not filing her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) for six years when she was vice governor.

With her admission of guilt, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division ordered Tan to pay a fine of P5,000 for each of the six counts of violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The anti-graft court said Tan faces imprisonment in case of her insolvency or inability to pay.

“When queried, the accused and her counsel informed the court that the accused fully understands the nature and consequences of her entering a plea of guilty,” the Sandiganbayan decision penned by Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez read.

“Having pleaded guilty to the charges in the informations, the accused is deemed to have admitted all the material facts alleged therein,” the court ruling read.

Tan entered a guilty plea during her conditional arraignment as a prerequisite for the court’s consideration of her motion to travel to Rome last January.

Tan “willfully, unlawfully and criminally” failed to file her SALNs from 2007 to 2012 within the period provided by law, according to the complaints filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Dec. 19, 2016.

Section 8 of RA 6713 mandates all government officials and employees to file their SALNs within 30 days after assumption of office, on or before April 30 of every year thereafter and within 30 days after separation from the service.

Non-filing of SALNs is punishable with imprisonment of not more than five years and a fine not exceeding P5,000 or both depending on the discretion of the court.