THE Sandiganbayan’s Second Division has recommended five years in jail for Eduardo Matillano, the former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, for not filing his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for eight years.
In a decision it promulgated on Sept. 5, the anti-graft court found Matillano “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of perjury, graft and violation of the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials.
The court also ordered him to pay P8,000 in fines for the other criminal cases filed against him.
Matillano was accused of excluding several assets in his SALN in 2001, 2002 and 2003, such as pieces of real property, motor vehicles and other assets.
And in 2012 the Office of the Ombudsman filed 11 charges against him at the Sandiganbayan for his failure to file his SALNs from 1994 to 2000.
Matillano earlier appealed to the court that he be allowed to change his plea to guilty from not guilty on the charges against him.
“When asked by the court, accused Matillano confirmed the manifestation of his counsel,” the Sandiganbayan said.
“He informed the court that he fully understands the nature and cause of the accusations against him, the same having been explained to him by his counsel, and that he is entering a plea of guilty to all the charges.”
The court allowed Matillano to post a P98,000 bail for his temporary liberty.
Matillano was a classmate of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Gringo Honasan in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1971.