Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24)— The Office of the Ombudsman is open to revising its policy restricting public access to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials.
This is according to Zamboanga del Norte 1st district Representative Romeo Jalosjos, who sponsored the budget of the Office of the Ombudsman. He did not give details.
“The Ombudsman is open to revision of Circular number 1. If you have any suggestion or comments for revision, the ombudsman is open,” Jalosjos said during plenary debates on the 2022 budget on Friday.
In September 2020, Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 which sets certain conditions for the release of SALNs.
Under the new policy, a SALN will only be released if:
– the requester is the declarant or the duly authorized representative of the declarant;
– the request is upon lawful order of the court in relation to a pending case; and
– the request is made by this Office’s Field Investigation Office/Bureau/Unit (FIO/FIB/FIU) for the purpose of conducting fact-finding investigation
During the plenary debates, ACT Partylist representative France Castro challenged the policy, insisting it is unconstitutional to limit public access to SALNs.
The document has been crucial in identifying possible corruption as it shows whether there is discrepancy in an official’s assets and his salary.
“Sino namang opisyala ng voluntary na magbubukas ng kanyang SALN sa taong nag iimbestiga sa kanya for possible graft and corruption?,” Castro asked.
[Translation: Who would voluntary open his or her SALN to those investigating for possible graft and corruption?]
Since 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte’s SALN has not been made public. Martires believes his policy is fair as SALNs have been “weaponized” against government officials.
Jalosjos said the Ombudsman can start reviewing the policy after lawmakers submit recommendations on possible changes.
In previous years, members of the media obtained from the Ombudsman copies of SALNs of the President, Vice President and other public officials.
The requirements only included a letter of request, a certificate of employment, and valid ID.
