SALN comparison to show if a gov't official got richer

The research and consulting firm, Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), said that an official's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) should be made public annually, making it easier to determine if any movement in their net worth was done through legitimate means, according to a "24 Oras" report of Sandra Aguinaldo.

“Dapat icompare yan sa mga previous years, lalo na yung year na nagsimula ka sa government service o nagsimula ka sa posisyon na iyon… Siyempre, there must be something wrong even if you are just in government for a few years [at] biglang dumami ang iyong mga lupain, real estate, parami ka pang condo, at the same time ang bank account mo biglang lumaki,” said CenPEG chairperson Ronald Simbulan.

(It should be compared with previous years, especially the year when you started in government service or in that position… Of course, there must be something wrong when even if you are just in government for a few years [and] your land and real estate suddenly increased, and you have a lot of condos and your bank account suddenly got fat.)

“[Makikita yan] kung nagkaroon ng ([We’ll be able to see] if there’s an) unusual expansion that does not sync or correspond with what you are getting from the government as your official income,” he added.

Earlier, senators released copies of their SALNs, revealing 2 billionaires and several multi-millionaires in the chamber.

Net worth of senators in the 20th Congress

Net worth of senators in the 20th Congress.

The SALN that the official will declare should contain real properties, if there are any.

Real properties of senators in the 20th Congress

Real properties of senators in the 20th Congress

Simbulan noted that it was important for officials to declare their business ventures to ensure no conflict of interest was happening.

“Halimbawa contractor yung business na ‘yun, tapos ikaw pala binibigyan mo ng negosyo yung kumpanyang yun na isang contractor company… That's why it's very important na itong SALN to make it accessible to the media and to the public. Kung meron kang ibang source of income outside of what you are receiving from the government as your official salary, dapat banggit din yun,” he said.

In the SALN released by the senators, some parts were redacted or covered to protect their privacy, like their addresses or their addresses of their properties.

But noticeably, some also redacted the names of companies where they have shares or business interests, like Senators Robin Padilla, Loren Legarda, Erwin Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Meanwhile, the SALN also tasks the official to declare their relatives working with the government.

In the SALN released by the senators, it was revealed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa has 14 relatives in government, while Sen. Imee Marcos has 10 relatives, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Kaya nga yung dynasties din hindi maganda, political dynasties… kasi various government agencies are supposed to be checking on one another… Kung kapamilya mo rin yung nasa agency na nagbabantay, how can you effectively have a system of checks and balances kung kamag-anak mo [yung nasa position]?” he asked.

(That’s why dynasties aren’t good because various government agencies are supposed to be checking on one another… If your relative is also in the agency that checks you, how can you effectively have a system of checks and balances if your relative [is in the position]?)

Meanwhile, the CenPEG chairperson urged the public to help call out public officials who may not have declared items in their SALNs.

On October 14, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a memorandum lifting restrictions on public access to SALNs.

This marked the first time the public could request the SALN since 2017.

President Marcos also stated that his SALN was open to access to whoever needed it, including the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI). —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News