Ombudsman prosecutors secured the conviction of Dennis Arenas, a Local Revenue Collection Officer I of the Office of the Treasurer in Pasay City, for two counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
Records show that Arenas failed to file his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for 2009 and 2010.
Arenas was sentenced to imprisonment of one year for each count and to pay a total fine of P10,000.00. He was also disqualified from holding public office.
According to the Decision promulgated by Branch 46 of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Pasay City, “it is imperative that every public official or government employee must make and submit a complete disclosure of his assets, liabilities and net worth in order to suppress any questionable accumulation of wealth. This serves as the basis of the government and the people in monitoring the income and lifestyle of public officials and employees in compliance with the constitutional policy to eradicate corruption, promote transparency in government, and ensure that all government employees and officials lead just and modest lives, with the end in view of curtailing and minimizing the opportunities for official corruption and maintaining a standard of honesty in the public service.” ###