Talisay Resident Questions Brgy. Official’s SALN

A resident of Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City wants the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to probe the alleged discrepancies in the entries of the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of Dumlog Barangay Councilman Gilbert Cañizares.

“His Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth bears deceitful information,” said a Dumlog resident in his letter to the Ombudsman Visayas. The complainant did not reveal his identity.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol, however, referred the letter-complaint to the Talisay City Council for investigation.

The letter sender said that the P600 net worth of Cañizares has raised his suspicion that something is amiss. He said as a councilman, the barangay official is entitled to a P12,000 monthly honorarium, yet what he declared in his SALN were a cellphone, pair of pants and some polo shirts worth P14,600, and liabilities of P12,000.

The complainant said Cañizares was “dishonest” by giving an impression that he is the poorest barangay official.