Anti-graft body clears DILG exec of charges

The Presidential Anti-graft Commission (PAGC) has dismissed for lack of evidence an administrative case filed against DILG Undersecretary Eduardo Soliman Jr. for his alleged failure to include several of his properties in Lapu Lapu City and various parts of the country in his Sworn Statement of Assets and Liabilities Networth (SALNs).

The recommendation of the anti-graft body was affirmed by Malacañang through a resolution dated June 4, a copy of which was furnished Soliman and the department.

The case stemmed from the letter of Nicolas Yubuco Cervantes, executive director of the PAGC Confidential Information Group in Surigao City alleging that Soliman owns several properties in Lapu Lapu City and in various parts of the country which were not reported or stated in the SALNs, in clear violation of Section 7 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and Section 8 a of the Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees (RA 6713).

Acting on the information, PAGC obtained a number of public documents showing Soliman’s ownership of several parcels of land including substantial business interests as a stockholder in Kairos Management and Consultancy Services Inc. (Kairos) and Sigma Interport Handlers and Services Corp. (Sigma).

In his counter-affidavit, Soliman claimed he used to have six properties in Lapu Lapu City, but two of them were already sold and the other one was donated to the city government of Lapu Lapu. Likewise, he claimed the two corporations of which he is a stockholder had long ceased operations.

In its investigation, the Commission found out that the properties he allegedly failed to declare in his SALNs were no longer under his ownership and possession and that the two corporation (Kairos and Sigma) are no longer in operation as shown by the affidavits of non-operation filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as early as May 1996 and March 1992, respectively.

This has led to the dismissal by the Anti-Graft body of the formal charge against Soliman for lack of substantial evidence last April 4.

Malacañang concurred with the recommendation of the PAGC, noting that the accusations leveled against Soliman are questions of fact that has to be proved by substantial evidence, and that while the complainant failed to present evidence to prove the allegations, respondent has sufficiently refuted all allegations.

"Wherefore, premises considered and as recommended by PAGC, the charge against Usec. Soliman is hereby dismissed for lack of evidence," Malacañang said.