Ex-DENR exec faces raps over SALN

MANILA, Philippines - A former director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is facing criminal charges for misdeclaring his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Jacob Meimban Jr., former executive director of the DENR river basin control office, was recently charged with perjury and violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees before the Sandiganbayan.

Based on the information of the cases, Meimban “unlawfully and feloniously made a willful and deliberate assertion of falsehood” when he did not declare the name of his wife in his SALN for 2007.

Graft probers said Meimban wrote N/A or not applicable in the space provided for the name of his spouse even though his petition to nullify their marriage was still pending at the time.

The ombudsman said Meimban got away with the disclosure of the financial and business interests of his wife.

Under Section 8 of RA 6713, public officials and employees should disclose in their SALNs their assets, liabilities and net worth as well as financial and business interests including those of their spouses and unmarried children under 18 who are living in their households.

“This is to certify that a preliminary investigation was conducted... On the basis of sworn statement and other evidence submitted, there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that the crime charged had been committed and the accused is probably guilty thereof,” a certification attached to each charge sheet read.

The ombudsman set the  bail at P12,000.