THE Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday convicted a former dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Home Economics for failure to file her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth in 2008 and 2009.
Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Don Ace Mariano Alagar also convicted Milagros Querubin for her failure to declare two real properties located at Barangay Putatan, Alabang, Muntinlupa City in her 2010 and 2011 SALNs.
During the trial at the QC MTC, Querubin initially entered a “not guilty” plea, but later pleaded guilty.
Alagar ordered Querubin to pay a P4,000 fine for four counts of violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, or Republic Act No. 6713.
The law requires all public officials or employees to accomplish a statement under oath showing their assets, liabilities and net worth, and financial and business interests as of Dec. 31 of every year, including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households, and to submit this on or before 30 April of the succeeding year.
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman indicted former Butuan City mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. for one count of graft.
Also charged were former city licensing officer IV Paul Cabrera and former acting city fire marshal Alric Gomez.
On May 9, 2012, a fire broke out at the Novo Jeans and Shirts Enterprises on Montilla Boulevard in Butuan, killing 17 female workers sleeping in their quarters.
Novo’s business permit was issued despite the lack of a fire safety and inspection certificate, the Ombudsman noted.