The former governor of the province of Tawi-Tawi, Sadikul Sahali, has pleaded guilty before the Sandiganbayan for six counts of violation of Section 8 of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713).
Sahali was re-arraigned with the assistance of his counsel and was apprised of the consequences of his plea. By his plea, Sahali is deemed to have admitted all the material facts alleged in the information filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Sandiganbayan ordered Sahali to pay a fine of P5,000.00 for each count, or a total of P30,000.00, and subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.
In December 2015, Sahali was haled into court based on six Informations due to his non-compliance with the rules on the filing of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). It was discovered that his SALNs from 2007 to 2011 were not subscribed before a notary public, while his 2012 SALN was unsigned. All SALNs were also submitted beyond the April 30 deadline.
Under Section 8 of R.A. No. 6713, “public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households. It also requires every government official and employee to file the SALN within thirty (30) days after assumption of office, or on or before April 30 of every year thereafter, and within thirty (30) days after separation from the service. ###