Co-owned properties should be declared in SALN —CSC official

All government officials should declare in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) properties that are co-owned with other family members.

Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo told "News To Go" on Friday that the guidelines for the declaration of SALN is clear on co-owned properties.

"Sa guidelines ng pagdedeklara ng yaman sa SALN, kahit co-owned 'yung property dapat idedeklara mo ... Regardless of the amount of your share," he said. 

"Kung wala na 'yung mga magulang at namatay na, automatic 'yung property mapupunta sa mga heirs. Kahit nakapangalan pa sa magulang 'yung property, dapat ideklara mo na rin 'yung sa 'yo kasi there is already transfer of ownership on that property from the time the parents died," he added.

Ronquillo's clarification came amid the allegations against Commission on Elections (Comelec) Andres Bautista that he has bank and real property documents that were not reflected in his 2016 SALN.

This was disclosed by his estranged wife, Patricia Bautista.

Bautista has denied the allegations, saying that he has joined investments and properties with other relatives.

Asked whether "misdeclaration of SALN" is a crime and a ground for possible impeachment complaint against Bautista, Ronquillo said: "Mukhang malaking kasalanan 'yan at pwedeng grounds for impeachment."

But misdeclaration can be corrected, he said.

"Sa guidelines natin pwedeng ma-correct when you're in good faith at the time you committed the mistake. Honest mistake... for example 'di mo naideklara dahil 'di mo alam na sa 'yo," Ronquillo said.

"By next year na idekalara mo 'yon, 'yon na 'yung correction na mangyayari. So if you will be asked about this bakit 'di mo dineklara 'yan nung nakaraang taon, you can always interpose sa defense na, kasi hindi ko alam na sa akin," he added.

Charges stemming from non-filing of SALN cannot be avoided through resignation from government service.

"Ang non-filing of SALN is punishable under Republic Act 6713 at alam naman po natin 'yung violation niyan gives rights to both administrative ang criminal offenses. Kaya meron ding karampatang criminal liability," Ronquillo said.

"Pwede siya habulin kahit wala na siya kasi sa Constitution sinasabi naman na 'We are accountable at all times' at hindi mo pwedeng itapon 'yon just because you're resigned from the service," he added.

Also, he said that irregularities in the filing of the SALN is impeachable offense, as there is a precedent that a Supreme Court Chief Justice was impeached due to questions on his SALN. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News