For ‘Failure to submit SALN’: Sogod mayor, VM sued before the Ombudsman

CEBU, Philippines - For their alleged failure to submit their respective Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) in 2013 and 2014, the mayor and vice mayor of Sogod are facing complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Mayor Lissa Marie Durano-Streegan and her husband, Vice Mayor Richard Streegan, allegedly violated Section 8 of Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees, and Section 17, Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Dean Severo Dosado, a former vice mayor of the town, filed the complaint on January 21.

Dosado allegedly went to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas on November 5, 2015 to ask if their mayor and vice mayor had submitted their respective SALNs for the year 2013 and 2014.

However, as per remarks of the anti-graft office, there was “no available SALN on file.”

 Dosado sent a letter to the Office of the Mayor on November 13, 2015 requesting for a copy of the Streegan’s SALNs, but personnel officer Cleofe Maningo stated that these had been directly submitted before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“…please be informed that said municipal officials submitted their respective SALNs directly to the Office of the Ombudsman (Visayas). Hence, we could not provide you with such documents,” read the letter in response to Dosado’s.

With the remarks of the Office of the Ombudsman, Dosado said it was clear that the mayor and vice mayor failed to file their respective SALNs.

Under Republic Act 6713, all government officials and employees are required to file their SALN yearly, declaring their net worth as of December 31 of the previous year to check if there was a sudden increase or unusual increase of their assets.

The Streegans are set to answer the complaints filed against them. — (FREEMAN)