Marcos, Cabinet execs ready to release SALN under Ombudsman rules - Palace

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Cabinet secretaries are ready to release his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the “proper authorities,” as long as the process follows procedures set by the Office of the Ombudsman, Malacañang said Sunday, Oct. 26.

“Unang-una, nagsalita na ang Pangulo at siya ay handa naman pong ibigay at ipakita ang kaniyang SALN sa proper authority,” Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing with reporters in Malaysia.

“Mayroon naman po na tayong rules or procedure na inilahad ang Ombudsman at sinabi din naman dito na lahat ng request for SALN ay pagbibigyan pero may mga certain guidelines na ibinigay ang Ombudsman. So ang ehekutibo ay tutugon dito,” she added.

[Translation: First of all, the President has already spoken, and he is ready to submit and show his SALN to the proper authority. We have rules or procedures set by the Office of the Ombudsman, which also state that all requests for SALNs will be granted but under certain guidelines. So the Executive branch will comply with this.]

Castro also echoed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin’s earlier reminder that SALNs should not be used “indiscriminately” as political weapons or to discredit public officials.

She said Cabinet officials held an informal meeting on Saturday, where they agreed to follow the Ombudsman’s procedures.

“Nagkaroon lamang sila ng informal meeting at napag-usapan nga ito… But still nandiyan naman ang procedure na inilahad ng Ombudsman at ang bawat isa naman ay tutugon dito,” Castro said.

[Translation: They only had an informal meeting where this matter was discussed… But still, the procedure laid out by the Ombudsman remains in place, and everyone will comply with it]

Bersamin, in a separate interview, clarified that the SALNs of Cabinet officials will be available “upon request” if the reason for access is legitimate.

Earlier this month, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a memorandum lifting restrictions on access to the SALNs of public officials, saying the move promotes transparency. The memo applies to the President, Vice President, heads of constitutional offices, and local government officials.