The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of five counts of violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713) against Sulu Vice-Governor Abdusakur Tan for failure to file his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). Also facing the same charges are Maimbung Mayor Samier Abubakar Tan (two counts) and Lugus Mayor Al-Zhudurie Asmadun (five counts).
Records from the Ombudsman showed that Vice-Governor Tan failed to file his SALN from 2007 to 2011. On the other hand, Samier failed to file his SALN for 2010 and 2011, while Al Zhudurie did not file any SALN from 2010 to 2014.
In its Resolution, the Ombudsman emphasized that “Section 8 of R.A. No. 6713 clearly provides that regional and local officials and employees shall file their SALNs with the Office of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman in their respective regions. Respondents, as local elective officials, have the obligation to submit, or at least to make sure that their SALNs are submitted. It is imperative that every public official or government employee must make and submit a complete disclosure of his assets, liabilities and net worth in order to suppress any questionable accumulation of wealth.” ###