Roque to ask Duterte if he’s willing to release his SALNs

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday he will ask President Rodrigo Duterte if he is willing to release his 2018 and 2019 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the public.

“Mag-uusap po kami ng ating Presidente at para matapos na po itong isyung ito ay tatanungin ko na po. Baka naman magbigay ng permiso ang Presidente para isapubliko ang kaniyang SALN,” Roque told a news conference in Bohol.

Roque made the statement after the Senate released on Thursday the summary of the senators’ asset statements for 2019.

He earlier referred the release of the President’s SALN for 2018 and 2019 to the Office of the Ombudsman, which is the repository of the original SALNs of the President, the Vice President and members of constitutional bodies.

However, Ombudsman Samuel Martires in September tightened the rules on the release of SALNs.

Under the rules, a copy of the SALN may be released if the requester is the declarant or his/her authorized representative, if the request is upon lawful order of the court in relation to a pending case, and if the request is made by the Ombudsman's investigation units.

“Wala pong tinatago ang ating Presidente. Bago po maglabas ng ganitong guidelines ang Ombudsman, taun-taon naman po nilalabas ni Presidente ang kaniyang SALN,” Roque said.

“Ang kaniyang posisyon bilang isang abogado, sundin naman ang guidelines ng Ombudsman.” — BM, GMA News