Provincial board suspends mayor, vice mayor for 6 months

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The provincial board of Ilocos Norte has suspended the mayor and vice mayor of Solsona town for incorrect entries in their statement of assets, liabilities and net worh (SALN).

Mayor Jonathan de Lara and his son, Vice Mayor Joseph de Lara, said the six-month suspension against them was politically motivated.

The elder De Lara said their only mistake was their failure to include the names of their relatives in the SALN.

He said he thought the SALN should carry only their family’s assets, and not of their relatives.

The mayor said the SALN form had no space to list all their relatives.

The De Laras said their rivals could be behind their suspension.