Makabayan bloc bares SALN; calls on Marcos, VP Sara to do the same

Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc released their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), "in the spirit of transparency and accountability."

They challenged "President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte and all government officials elected or appointed to do the same."

"As it has done numerous times in the past, members of the Makabayan bloc released their statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in the spirit of transparency and accountability,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

Marcos had said he is willing to make public his SALN.

“We’ll follow the old rules. These old rules were suspended in the last administration, where the SALN was – it was much easier to get a copy of the SALN and to examine it,” Marcos said.

Earlier, the Office of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a memo scrapping the restriction on access to the SALN of public officials.

“Transparency is the name of the game... There is no need for consent on the part of the public officer whose SALN is being requested. The only thing that the requesting party needs to show is ID and to make sure that he or she is not a fictitious person,” said Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano as he presented the Memorandum Circular. 

Based on their SALN, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has a net worth of P10.9 million.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago declared a P1.04 million net worth, while neophyte lawmaker and lawyer Renee Co of Kabataan party-list posted a net worth of P280,000.

SALN of Reps. Tinio, Elago, Co by lira.fernandez

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.” 

Article 11, Section 17 of the Constitution also requires public officers and employees, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, to submit a declaration under oath of their SALN.—LDF, GMA Integrated News