Padaca faces raps for failure to file SALN
The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday ordered the filing of criminal charges with the Sandiganbayan against former Isabela governor and elections commissioner Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca for her alleged failure to file her statements of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN) for four straight years.
She will be indicted before the Sandiganbayan for multiple violations of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The Office of the Ombudsman, after investigation, concluded that Padaca failed to file her SALNs and declare her net worth as required by law from 2008 to 2010.
The ombudsman also based its ruling on Commission on Appointments Profile and Investigation Report and on certification issued by the Human Resource Department (HRD) of the Office of the Provincial Administrator of Isabela.
Padaca denied the accusations and claimed that “she was surprised upon being informed by HRD that only her SALNs for 2004 and 2006 were on file.”
Finding probable cause to indict, the ombudsman ruled that “under Section 8 of RA 6713, all government officials and employees are mandated to submit their SALNs stating the required information on or before April 30 of every year” and that the “salutary purpose of requiring public officials to submit their SALN is aimed at curtailing and minimizing the opportunities for official corruption, as well as at maintaining a standard of honesty in the public service.”
Investigators, in a resolution approved on May 13, stated that “it strains belief that from 2007 to 2010, respondent not once tried to obtain a receiving copy of the SALNs which she supposedly accomplished and transmitted to HRD.”