Koko Pimentel wants inquiry into new SALN form

 

"There is a need to determine if the new form for the SALN complies with existing laws or just amounts to an unnecessary burden on public officers and employees," Pimentel said in Senate Resolution 710.

 

The senator explained that the new SALN form might be "too complex" for public employees, many of whom cannot afford to get the services of a lawyer or accountant to assist them in the filing.

 

"Such a complex form might lead to useless or unjustified complaints for violation of the law requiring the filing of the SALN, which could be the product of inadvertence, confusion, or honest mistake or misapprehension of difficult legal concepts," he said. 

 

The CSC approved the use of the new form starting from the year 2011. The deadline for the filing of the SALN using the new form is on April 30, 2012.

 

The new form includes new portions like the declaration of “personal and family expenditures,” “amount of taxes paid,” and “amount and sources of gross income,” which were not in the old SALN.

 

The new SALN also requires the additional declaration of the nature and classification of certain properties, like whether these are paraphernal, conjugal or community property.

 

Filers shall also required to distinguish which among their personal property and other assets are “tangible” and “intangible.” 

 

Section 17, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution mandates 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."

 

On the other hand, Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees states that: “Public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households."

 

Earlier, Senate ways and means committee chairman Senator Ralph Recto also asked on the CSC to conduct a nationwide information campaign on how to correctly fill out the new SALN form. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News