The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge a former councilor of the City of Marikina, for not including his business interests in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
Hilario Punzalan is facing charges before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (R.A. No. 6713) after preliminary investigation conducted by the Ombudsman revealed that he did not state in his 2006 to 2009 that he has business interests and financial connections in 10 EN 1 Trading, Inc. and River City Marketing and Trading Enterprises, Inc.
Section 8 of R.A. No. 6713 requires every public official and employee “to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities and net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households” in the form of SALN to be submitted on or before April 30 every year. ###