Ruby Sahali Tan, former vice-governor of Tawi-Tawi province pleaded guilty before the Sandiganbayan for six counts of violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713).
Tan voluntarily pleaded guilty during her re-arraignment with the assistance of her counsel, and after she was fully apprised of the consequences of her plea. With this development, Tan is deemed to have admitted all the material facts alleged in the Informations filed against her by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Sandiganbayan ordered Tan to pay a fine of P5,000.00 for each count, or a total of P30,000.00, and subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.
Tan was indicted after the Ombudsman found that she failed to file her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth under oath from 2007 to 2011, while her 2008 to 2012 SALNs were not filed on time.
Under Section 8 of R.A. No. 6713, “public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households. It also requires every government official and employee to file the SALN within thirty (30) days after assumption of office, or on or before April 30 of every year thereafter, and within thirty (30) days after separation from the service. ###