Impeached CJ Corona must heed Constitution on SALN – Malacañang

Impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona should file his statement of assets, liabilities and networth for 2011, because that is what the Constitution says about public officials in office, a Malacañang official said Monday.   “We certainly hope so because that would be in compliance with the constitutional provision on disclosure and filing of SALNs... I think nobody should be exempted from that,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing.   The deadline for filing SALNs for 2011 is April 30, 2012.   He would "certainly be interested” to look at Corona’s SALN, Lacierda said.   Article XI, Section 17 of the Constitution states that, “A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth.”   It further said that “in the case of the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional offices, and officers of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law.”   Also, Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, requires disclosure to the public of the actual copies of SALNs.   However, Supreme Court en banc resolution A.M. No. 92-9-851-RTC of September 22, 1992 spelled out the reasons why requests for a justice or a judge’s SALN may be denied.   The resolution aims to shield judges and justices from “deceptive requests” for information that could lead to intimidation, harassments and “fishing expedition.”   Corona’s failure to disclose his SALN was one of the grounds for his impeachment.   President Benigno Aquino III has filed his SALN last April 24. Vice President Jejomar Binay has also filed his SALN.   Members of the Aquino administration who have filed their SALNs include Lacierda,  Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Energy Secretary Rene Almendras, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang.   Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, Presidential Peace Process Adviser Teresita Deles, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, National Anti-Poverty Commission head Joel Rocamora, Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas, Presidential Communications Operations head Herminio Coloma Jr., and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino have also filed their respective SALNs.   Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Commission on Higher Education Patricia Licuanan, Defense Secretary Voltraire Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Interior, and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo also filed their 2011 SALNs.   Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje complete the list of Cabinet members that followed the constitutional provision on filing SALNs. —VS/HS/KG, GMA News