Metro Manila, Philippines – Ombudsman Boying Remulla said his office will subpoena the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of House of Representatives members, issuing an ultimatum for House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil to comply or face suspension.
In a press briefing on Monday, April 6, Remulla said his office will formally request the SALN of House lawmakers, the secretaries general and deputy secretaries general for the last decade.
He slammed Garafil for supposedly defying a previous subpoena, in relation to the multibillion-peso flood control scandal investigation.
Remulla said even the House security rejected the serving of a subpoena for the SALN of a deputy secretary general. The document was related to the plunder cases against some lawmakers in the flood control scam.
“Nagtataka kayo. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin ang mga SALN ng Kongreso. At ito fair, warning na naman sa secretary general na hindi po kami papayag. At sa linggong ito, kapag hindi namin nakuha ang mga SALN na una naming hiningi, sususpindihin ko po siya mula sa posisyon,” Remulla told reporters.
“Sana huwag silang magkakamaling humindi sapagkat hindi kami papayag na hindi sila mag-comply sa aming kautusan,” he added.
[Translation: You’re wondering why. Until now, the SALN of Congress members are still :unavailable. And this is another fair warning to the secretary general: We will not allow this. Within this week, if we do not obtain the SALNs we initially requested, I will suspend her from the position…I hope they don’t make the mistake of refusing, because we will not allow them to disregard our order.]
Remulla cited the significance of SALN in the cases of the ombudsman, in particular on civil forfeiture.
“Ang problema nga kasi kapag iyong secretary general kapag hindi sa amin binigay ang SALN, parang sinasabi nila hindi kayo pwede mag-file ng civil forfeiture cases…I’m warning Secretary General, do not do this again. We will cite you for contempt and we will suspend you if not remove you from office,” he said when asked about the status of flood control scam cases.
[Translation: The problem is, if the secretary general does not give us the SALN, it’s as if they’re saying we cannot file civil forfeiture cases… I’m warning the secretary general: Do not do this again. We will cite you for contempt, and we will suspend you – if not remove you from office]
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to Garafil for a comment.
The House of Representatives summoned Remulla to submit the SALN of Vice President Sara Duterte in the impeachment hearing on April 14.
