SC cracks whip on ex-DPWH exec over 'simple negligence'

Former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Salvador Pleyto stands to lose six months' worth of retirement benefits after the Supreme Court found him guilty of simple negligence for his failure to declare his wife's business interests and financial connections in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) from 1991 to 2001. In a ruling written by Associate Justice Roberto Abad, the high court's Second Division reversed the Court of Appeals' earlier decision which ruled in Pleyto's favor. The SC said Pleyto's omission was not tantamount to dishonesty, but was a mere case of simple negligence "in the absence of bad faith or the intent to mislead or deceive on his part." Despite this, the Court ruled that such omission still constituted a violation of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Section 8 of the code requires public officials and employees "to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years old." The SC held that Pleyto was negligent for his failure to provide a detailed list of his wife's assets and business interests in his SALN. The high tribunal, however, said Pleyto had no intent to conceal his wife's business interests because he indicated in his SALN that his wife was a businesswoman. In 2002, the Office of the President dismissed Pleyto from service upon the recommendation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, which found out that Pleyto did not disclose his wife's business interests in his SALN. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News