Judges, court personnel have until May 31 to file SALNs
Judges and other officials and employees of all trial courts in the country have until May 31 to file their statements of assets, liabilities and networth (SALNs).
In a circular issued last April 29, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez said the extension was cleared by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.
Trial court officials and employees file their SALNs with the Supreme Court’s (SC) Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
Last April 17, the Office of the Ombudsman has extended until May 30 the April 30 deadline for the filing of SALNs by government officials and employees.
The filing of SALN is mandated by Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The penalty for non-filing of SALN and other provisions of RA 6713 is “fine not exceeding the equivalent of six (6) months' salary or suspension not exceeding one (1) year, or removal depending on the gravity of the offense after due notice and hearing by the appropriate body or agency.”
The law also provides that “any violation proven in a proper administrative proceeding shall be sufficient cause for removal or dismissal of a public official or employee, even if no criminal prosecution is instituted against him.”
The law mandates the filing of SALN “within thirty (30) days after assumption of office, on or before April 30 of every year thereafter, and within thirty (30) days after separation from the service.”
It provides that “constitutional and national elective officials should file their SALNs with the national office of the Ombudsman; Senators and Congressmen, with the Secretaries of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively; Justices, with the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court; Judges, with the Court Administrator; and all national executive officials with the Office of the President.”
It also provides that the “regional and local officials and employees should file their SALNs with the Deputy Ombudsman in their respective regions; officers of the Armed Forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, with the Office of the President, and those below said ranks, with the Deputy Ombudsman in their respective regions; and all other public officials and employees, defined in Republic Act No. 3019, as amended, with the Civil Service Commission.”