SC tells gov't workers to declare assets' real value

The Supreme Court is asking all government workers to disclose the real value of their properties otherwise the high court would be compelled to impose stiff sanctions against them.

To show its determination, the Supreme Court on June 15 dismissed from active service Norberto Doblada, court sheriff in Pasig City after the evidences proved he had violated the law.

With the assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Court Administrator found that Doblada had failed to disclose in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities many of his assets and other business interests for the years, 1974, 1976, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1998.

Aside from his outright dismissal from the government service, the high tribunal also ordered that Doblada's benefits, except his accrued leave credits, would be forfeited.

In Cebu, Rep. Nerrisa Soon-Ruiz became controversial late last year after it was found out that she also failed to disclose the mansion that she owns and built on top of a hill in barangay Casili, Mandaue City.

According to the Supreme Court, the failure to declare true and detailed statements of assets and liabilities would constitute a violation of the provisions of the Republic Acts 3019 and 6713.

The court pointed out that both RA 3019 and RA 6713 provides that every public officer and employees shall submit a true, detailed SAL that include a statement of the amounts and sources of his income, expenses and amount of taxes paid every year.

"Under these laws, a government employee who violates these provisions shall be dismissed from service," the SC ruled.

Republic Act 1379 also provides that the properties or money of public employees would be confiscated in favor of the government if it were proven that he had acquired it a questionable manner.

If the value of the property and the amount of cash owned by a public official or employee is manifestly out of proportion to his income, it means that these were illegally taken and subject for forfeiture.

The Office of the Ombudsman announced last week that it is now monitoring 47 public officials in the Visayas and is subjected them to a discreet investigation over reports they had acquired questionable properties.