MANILA -- The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) has convicted an employee of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for failure to file his Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) from 1998 to 2004 and from 2006 to 2012.
Walter Reynoso, Sr., a BOC Customs Operations Officer, was convicted on 14 counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713, or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”
The Manila MTC Branch 6 sentenced Reynoso to pay a PHP500 fine per count, or a total of PHP7,000.
In the complaint filed by the Department of Finance-Revenue Integrity Protection Service (DOF-RIPS), Reynoso allegedly failed to file his SALNs from 1998 to 2004 and from 2006 to 2012.
Manila MTC Branch 6 Presiding Judge Jerome Jimenez denied Reynoso's motion to dismiss due to inordinate delay.
During the arraignment, the accused, assisted by his counsel, entered a plea of guilty after informing the court that he understood the nature of the charge and the consequences of his plea.
Under Section 8 of RA 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.
The SALN must be filed within 30 days after assumption of office on or before April 30 of every year thereafter and within 30 days after separation from service. (PNA)
