Robredo: Ombudsman's SALN restrictions, abolition talk are disheartening

Published September 25, 2020 02:19 PM By LLANESCA T. PANTI,GMA News

Vice President Leni Robredo expressed dismay Friday over statements made by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on lifestyle checks, the value of Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), and possible abolition of his office.

“Iyong recent statements ng Ombudsman, nakakapanghina siya marinig, parang nag-dedepart sa rason bakit nariyan iyong opisina,” Robredo, a lawyer, said in a Basta Batas forum.

Martires earlier said he stopped the conduct of lifestyle checks

on public officials, as failure in such does not prove than an official is corrupt, and restricted access to SALN.

He also raised the possibility of abolishing the Office of the Ombudsman

as witnesses refuse to testify against corrupt officials.

Republic Act 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials mandates disclosure of SALNs to the public at a certain period of time and as long as the one making the request shoulders the cost of reproduction and mailing of the SALN copies.

The Ombudsman law, on the other hand, allows of the Office of the Ombudsman to “investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper, or inefficient.”

“Iyong accountability of public officials, we should put a lot of premium on it to earn the public’s confidence, para walang aabuso. There should be transparency in government processes para maiwasan ang corruption kasi corruption talaga ang nagpapahirap sa atin,” Robredo said.

She said that making public officials accountable will strengthen institutions and prevent the country from being too dependent on the sitting President for progress.

“Very dependent kasi tayo sa Presidente, sobrang centralized na kapag mabuti ang Presidente, okay tayo. Pero pag minalas tayo, maraming nasasakripisyo. We should strengthen our institutions,” Robredo said.

“Ito talaga ang kailangan natin maiayos eh, itong mga leakages dapat mawala,” she added.—AOL, GMA News

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