Robin Padilla asks Senate secretary to release SALN

Senator Robinhood Padilla has asked Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. to release his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the public after the Office of the Ombudsman scrapped restrictions on public access to the SALNs of public officials.

“Ako po ay sumusulat sa inyo upang ipahayag ang aking kusang-loob na pagbibigay ng waiver o pahintulot sa anumang aksyon o proseso kaugnay ng full disclosure ng aking Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) alinsunod sa umiiral na batas tulad ng Republic Act No. 1073 o Data Privacy Act, iba pang patakaran, at alituntunin ng pamahalaan,” Padilla said in a letter dated Oct. 15. 

(I am writing to you to express my voluntary grant of a waiver or consent to any action or process related to the full disclosure of my Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth [SALN] in accordance with existing laws such as Republic Act No. 1073 or the Data Privacy Act, other policies, and government regulations.) 

“Ako ay nakikiisa sa diwa ng ganap na pagpapahayag at katapatan batay sa prinsipyo ng ‘Public office is a public trust’ na nakasaad sa Saligang Batas. Nauunawaan ko ang mga probisyon ng Republic Act No. 6713 o Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, at bilang isang lingkod-bayan, buong-puso kong isinusumite aking sarili sa pagsisiyasat ng sambayanan,” he added. 

(I join in the spirit of full disclosure and honesty based on the principle of ‘Public office is a public trust’ as stated in the Constitution. I understand the provisions of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and as a public servant, I wholeheartedly submit myself to the scrutiny of the people.) 

The Ombudsman's memo on the SALN covers the President, Vice President, the heads of Constitutional Offices, and local government officials since the Ombudsman is the official repository of the SALNs of these public officials. 

The new policy is a reversal of the 2020 memo issued by Remulla’s predecessor, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who restricted public access to SALN by requiring the consent of the SALN owner for disclosure, among other restrictions. 

According to the Civil Service Commission, the head of the personnel/administrative unit or unit/human resource management office shall transmit all original copies of the SALNs to concerned offices. In the case of senators, the repository office for their SALNs is the office of the Secretary of the Senate. — JMA, GMA Integrated News