Palace suspends DepEd official over SALN

Malacañang has suspended for six months a regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) for her failure to submit a true and complete statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Based on the findings of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), DepEd-Region 11 director Estrella Babano failed to declare two vehicles – an Isuzu Hilander and a Honda Civic – registered under her husband’s name in her SALNs from 2000 to 2005, as the law requires.

Babano, however, argued that she felt no need to declare the two vehicles since these were her husband’s.

But the PAGC found her defense without merit because Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, does not make any distinction between conjugal and exclusive properties of spouses so she has to declare all of these in her SALN.

Apart from RA 6713, civil servants are required to submit SALNs under RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The PAGC said the SALN should include details of an official’s assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests, including those of the official’s spouse and unmarried children under 18 years old living in his household.

Failure to file a sworn SALN is punishable by suspension of one month and one day to six months for the first offense and dismissal from the service for the second offense.