Kamanggagawa party-list's San Fernando authorizes public release of SALN

Kamanggagawa Party-list Representative Eli San Fernando wrote to House of Representatives Secretary General Attorney Cheloy Garafil to allow the public access his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

“We urge our fellow colleagues, our colleagues in the House of Representatives to do the same, to authorize the Secretary General na isapubliko yung mga SALN ng ating mga kasamahan (make public our SALNs). After all, kung wala naman tinatago, isapubliko na (if we are not hiding anything, make it public),” San Fernando said Thursday.

San Fernando also wrote Independent Commission for Infrastructure chairperson, retired Justice Andres Reyes, to appeal for the livestreaming of ICI proceedings for transparency.

“Maraming nagtatanong, bakit parang tinatago? Bakit may parang pinagtatakpan dito sa ICI proceedings?” San Fernando asked.

(Many are asking why is the hearing being done behind closed-door? Why are there suspicions of a cover-up in the proceedings?)

“Mali yata yung pagkakaintindi ng ICI sa salitang independent (Maybe there’s a wrong understanding of the word independent.) When you say “independent,” dapat impartial. Hindi independent na kayo-kayo lang yung nag-uusap diyan sa ICI. Dapat lahat tayo involved diyan (When you say, independent, it should be impartial. It’s not independent if only you are talking, it should be all of us are involved),” San Fernando added.

ICI executive director Brian Hosaka recently said that the fact-finding body’s hearings will remain private amid calls for a public hearing. Hosaka previously said that the hearings will not be livestreamed to avoid “trial by publicity” and any political influence.

San Fernando also supports calls to hold a special session to approve the bill giving powers to the ICI. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News