THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has dismissed two high-ranking town officials in Mindanao for failure to declare properties they own in their Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN). The two are Mayor Montasir M. Sabal of Sultan Sumagka (formerly Talitay) in Maguindanao and Vice-Mayor Nacianceno M. Pacalioga, Jr. of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur. Both were also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits. They will also be facing perjury and graft charges. The Ombudsman, in two separate statements released yesterday, said the local government officials’ nondisclosure of real properties “constitutes Serious Dishonesty as the acts were done fraudulently and were committed several times.” The Ombudsman cited records showing that Mr. Sabal failed to disclose his ownership of five real-estate properties located in Davao City and Cotabato City. Mr. Pacalioga, on the other hand, failed to declare 10 parcels of land located in different barangays of Dumingag. Mr. Pacalioga has defended that he did not need to declare these as he had already waived his rights over them in favor of the Dumingag United Subanen Association, Inc. and a certain Roel Dumayon prior to the years in question. — Mindanao Bureau

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