MANILA - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the yearlong suspension of Talitay, Maguindanao Mayor Montasir Sabal for failing to disclose his business interests, firearms and other property in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

In a statement, the Ombudsman said Sabal was found guilty of gross neglect of duty after he failed to disclose substantial property and business interests in his SALNs from 2011 to 2015, including 14 firearms, four high-end vehicles and business interests in general merchandise, construction supplies, and accessories.

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The Ombudsman also found that Sabal failed to secure permission from the provincial governor for his overseas travels from 2010 to 2016.

Sabal was also faulted for failing to propose legislative measures against illegal drugs to the municipal council as mandated by the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and echoed in a memorandum issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The Ombudsman said that Municipal Budget Officer Charity Tampoco and Municipal Treasurer Norodin Samaon attested that the municipality never allocated funds for the anti-illegal drugs program from 2010 to 2015, hence, not a single activity geared towards addressing the drug problem took place in the same period.

The Ombudsman directed the DILG chief to enforce Sabal's suspension.