Ombudsman Remulla to issue new memo allowing SALN access next week

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said he will issue a new memorandum allowing access to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of public officials, including that of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

“That [memo] is what we have to prepare for the guidelines, parameters that have to be spelled out. And also the undertaking (purpose) of the requesting party,” Remulla told reporters in his first ever press conference as Ombudsman. 

Asked when the new memo will be issued, Remulla replied, “Hopefully by Wednesday next week.” 

He, however, said that granting SALN access will still be in compliance with existing laws. 

“It cannot be free for all. It doesn't work that way because there is data privacy and security problems can arise,” he said. 

Remulla’s position is contrary to the 2020 memo issued by his predecessor, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who restricted the access to SALN by requiring the consent of the SALN owner for disclosure, among other restrictions.

Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees expressly mandates that SALNs must be made available for inspection at reasonable hours and for copying after 10 working days from the time they are filed subject to prescribed regulations. 

Likewise, Article 11, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”

In response, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said Remulla’s move “is a long-overdue correction to a policy that weakened transparency and accountability by restricting public access to SALNs.”

On top of SALN access, Remulla said he will also launch a public interest unit under the Ombudsman where citizens can report their lifestyle check findings on public officials.

“I want to open this office to the public. Kasi dapat ito sumbungan ng bayan eh. In fact, one of the campaigns we will launch will be crowdsourcing of information for lifestyle checks. Kasi ang lifestyle check, we won’t just rely on fact-finding investigators,” Remulla said.

(The public should be able to seek relief from the Office of the Ombudsman. The lifestyle check won’t only be reliant on our fact-finding investigators.)

“We will ask the public to contribute to us sa lifestyle checks. We will open a line for that. Kasi ang kapitbahay naman ang pwede makapagsabi kung ano iyong buhay nung tao na gusto mong pag-aralan eh,” Remulla added.

(It is really the neighbor who would know best about the lifestyle of a public official in question.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News