GMA News struggles to get lawmakers' SALNs

Long before the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona went underway last Jan. 16, GMA News tried to obtain copies of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of lawmakers, only to find out how elusive these supposed public documents were.   Since March last year, GMA News tried to get the SALNs of members of the House of Representatives from the records section — to no avail. The news team tried again in August 2011 and then last February, with the same results, Sherrie Ann Torres said in a special report aired over at GMA’s “24 Oras.”   “Ni hindi pinasilip sa amin ang mga SALN na nasa records section, kaya habang nag-aantay ng sagot ng secretary-general ng Kongreso (Atty. Marilyn Barua-Yap) minabuti na lang naming suyurin ang buong Kongreso mula North Wing hanggang South Wing para isa-isahin ang mga opisina ng prosecution team na umuusig sa impeachment case,” she noted.   Article II of the eight Articles of Impeachment against the chief justice accuses Corona of nonpublic disclosure of his SALN.   5 of 202 lawmakers   Of 202 lawmakers who signed the impeachment complaint against the chief magistrate, only five gave GMA News their respective SALNs, including Akbayan Partylist Rep. Arlene Bag-ao, Bayan Muna Partylist Neri Colmenares, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, and Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali.   “Pinakamadaling makuha ang SALN ni Representative Tañada at Representative Bag-ao, naka-upload na kasi ito sa kanilang website,” according to the report.   In a chance meeting down the august halls of the Lower House, lead prosecutor Neil Tupas Jr. said the GMA News staff should “[Ask] my staff… Basta puntahan niyo at kausapin niyo.”   However, the staff of the Iloilo representative failed to give GMA News a copy of the congressman’s SALN.   Black propaganda?   While roaming through the prosecutors’ offices, a staff from the office of Isabel Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said she cannot give the news team her boss’ SALN as it may be used as a ‘smear campaign’ against the congressman.   “We are being cautioned because of the things that are being done with the SALN of some people, lalo na sa prosecution. Nagkakaroon yata ng parang smear campaign. Although we already received the letter, I’ve got to get the consent of my boss first,” she said.   The lawmakers are willing to provide a copy of their respective SALNs only after the impeachment trial for fear that it may be used as “black propaganda,” said prosecution spokesperson Quimbo.   “Ayon sa kanilang tagapagsalita na si Rep. Miro Quimbo, nangangamba raw ang ibang miyembro ng prosekusyon na gamitin ang kanilang SALN sa black propaganda at para ilihis palayo sa impeachment ang isyu,” Torres said in the report.   “Taos puso at handa umano naman silang ilabas ang kanilang SALN ‘pag tapos na ang paglilitis kay Corona,” she added.   Missing information   “‘Pag hindi mo kinumpleto ‘yan [pag-fill out ng SALN form], hindi namin ‘yan tatanggapin at kapag hindi ‘yan tinanggap ng committee, it is deemed not filed. Kung mayroon siyang in-omit na statement then he can be charged also for perjury that is tantamount to telling a lie while under oath,” said Atty. Ariel Ronquillo, director IV at the Civil Service Commission.   In the special report, GMA News noted that some information were missing or omitted from the SALNs of two of the five representatives.   “Isa sa mga nag-impeach kay Corona, kulang ang detalye mula sa nag-iisa niyang lupa. Ayon kasi sa batas, dapat nakadetalye kung magkano ang iba’t ibang halaga ng lupa. Una, kung magkano ito nabili at ang mga renovation nito. Ikalawa, batay sa utos ng assessor ng lokal na gobyerno. At ikatlo, ang kasalukuyang halaga nito sa merkado,” according to the report.   Three of the representatives openly detailed their properties.   “Katangi-tangi naman ang tatlong kongresista na nagdagdag pa ng pahina para sa mas mabusising pagdeklara ng halaga at lokasyon ng kanilang yaman,” the report noted.   “Apat din ang nag-detalye ng halaga at plaka ng kanilang mga sasakyan, pero ang dalawa iniwan ang tanong sa SALN form kung paano napasakanila ang kanilang deklaradong properties.”   Elusive SALN   In a 1989 Supreme Court en banc resolution, the justices including Corona were restricted from disclosing their respective SALNs. But without a resolution, law, or executive order, the SALNs of lawmakers remained elusive.   “Sa Korte Suprema nananatili ang resolution na bawal ilahad sa publiko ang SALN ng mga mahistrado. Samantala, hanggang ngayon ni anong paliwanag sa records division ng Kongreso tungkol sa matagal nang hinihingi ng GMA News na SALN ay wala pa rin,” the GMA News report noted. — With Rouchelle Dinglasan/VS, GMA News