Marcos ready to undergo lifestyle check — Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is ready to undergo a lifestyle check,  Malacañang said on Friday. 

This was according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing. She was asked if Marcos is affirmative to the call of some lawmakers for him to subject himself to a lifestyle check. 

She stressed that all members of the Executive branch of the government is ready to subject themselves to  lifestyle checks.

"Lahat ng parte ng Ehekutibo ay ready for lifestyle check... lahat po ng ehekutibo ay ready, pati po ang Pangulo," Castro said.

(All members of the Executive are ready for a lifestyle check, including the President.) 

On Thursday, several congressmen expressed support for the lifestyle check that was directed by the President amid the flood control projects probe, with some opposition lawmakers saying that Marcos should take the lead by subjecting himself to a lifestyle check.

House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers party-list and House Assistant Minority Leader Renee Co of Kabataan party-list have pointed out that a refusal by the President to undergo a lifestyle check would make his order hollow and potentially convey a lack of transparency.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she is expecting that Marcos would set an example by also subjecting himself to a lifestyle check amid the investigation into anomalous and faulty flood control projects.

Malacañang earlier announced that Marcos ordered lifestyle checks on all government officials as there is a need for continuous checking of records by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regarding the questionable flood control projects.

Up to the Ombudsman

Castro said it it is up to the Office of the Ombudsman how will it conduct lifestyle checks on concerned government officials.

"Nabanggit po natin ang Ombudsman dahil sila po ay may karapatan at may authority to initiate investigation on this matter," Castro said.

(We mentioned that the Ombudsman has the right and authority to initiate investigation on this matter.) 

"Ngunit ang Ombudsman po ay isang independent constitutional body, at kung anuman po ang kanilang magiging proseso or mechanics patungkol po dito, nasa Ombudsman na po iyon," she added. 

(However, the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body and whatever process or mechanics, it's up to the Ombudsman.)

The Office of the Ombudsman handles the complaints filed against high-ranking government officials and those occupying supervisory positions, complaints involving grave offenses, as well as complaints involving large sums of money and/or properties.

However, in September 2020, then-Ombudsman Samuel Martires said he stopped conducting lifestyle checks on public officials, saying that a lifestyle is not necessarily an indicator of corruption.

Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials provides that "public officials and employees and their families should lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income" and that "they should not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form."

Full disclosure of SALN

Meanwhile, when asked about the call of Hontiveros for Marcos to also fully disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, Castro initially said that the matter should not be politicized. 

''Lumalayo po kasi tayo sa issue, sinabi po natin ang Pangulo, ang buong ehekutibo ay ready for lifestyle check. So huwag po tayong lumayo sa issue, ang issue po ngayon ay tuligsain at habulin ang mga involved sa flood control projects so huwag po nating ibahin at huwag tayo medyo mamulitika,'' Castro said.

(We're diverting the issue. We are saying that the President, the entire executive is ready for a lifestyle check. So let's not divert from the issue which is holding accountable those involved in flood control projects. Let's not politicized this.) 

Still, Castro mentioned the President would be willing to show his SALN if necessary, since the SALN is included in lifestyle checks. 

''Kasama po sa lifestyle check, mauna o mahuli man po ang Pangulo, kasama po 'yan... Kung kinakailangan nga po, sabi nga po natin, lahat ng miyembro ng ehekutibo ay ready for a lifestyle check,'' she explained when asked if Marcos is willing to show his SALN. 

(It's included in the lifestyle check, even the President comes first or last, it's included. If necessary, like what we said, all members of the executive are ready for a lifestyle check.) 

Castro earlier said the conduct of lifestyle checks would depend on the agencies handling the offices. 

She had mentioned that the Office of the Ombudsman and the Bureau of Internal Revenue could also conduct lifestyle checks. — RSJ/VDV, GMA Integrated News