Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Sandiganbayan convicts ex-Army officer for SALN violation

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 11): Sandiganbayan convicts ex-Army officer for SALN violation

The Sandiganbayan has convicted a retired Army officer for not declaring in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth his business and financial interest as vice president of a security agency for the calendar year 1996.

In a 39-page ruling, the Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division found retired Army Col. Ceferino Leyritana Layao guilty of violating Section 8(a) in relation to Section 11 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Layao was sentenced to suffer a straight penalty of imprisonment for one year; pay a fine of P5,000; disqualification from holding public office; and pay the costs.

It was found while Layao was commissioned as a military officer, he also acted as vice president of Holy Spirit Security Corporation.

However, Layao did not disclose his business and financial interest as an official of the security firm, a corporation duly-registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in his SALN for the calendar year 1996 for which position he earned a monthly income of P9,000.

During trial, the Ombudsman's Office of the Special Prosecutor presented evidence on Layao's initial registration with the Social Security System on April 5, 1978 when he was assigned an SSS Number, the same number reflected in the remittances made by Holy Spirit for him during the months of August to December 1996.

In the ruling written by Associate Justice Gregory Ong and concurred in by Associate Justices Jose Hernandez and Maria Cristina Cornejo, the Sandiganbayan said the prosecution was able to establish Layao's employment with the security firm through the SSS documents.

It found "ample evidence and therefore concludes that accused Layao's employment and status as [Holy Spirit's] Vice President for Administration [from August 1996 up to December 1996] was clearly established."

However, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Layao on four other similar charges for lack of evidence regarding Layao's link to the corporation for the years 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=533356

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