Groups seek release of SALNs of Marcos, VP Sara, Martires, constitutional offices' chiefs

Civil society groups on Thursday formally asked the Office of the Ombudsman to release the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, heads of the constitutional commission offices and that of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, saying such release is bare minimum in meeting transparency in governance.

Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party, Buhay ang People Power Network, Clergy for Good Governance, among others, made the request for SALN release through a letter submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

The groups said their request is in accordance with Remulla's Memorandum Circular 3 which lifted restrictions on public access for SALNs, including the requirement for the consent of SALN declarant.

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. 

“Sa bawat repository ng SALN, i-request natin ang SALN ng mga local government officials natin, DPWH engineers…bahain natin sila ng request for SALN release. The greater the power, the greater the demands for transparency and accountability. Our highest officials must be subjected to the highest levels of scrutiny. Access to their SALNs for the past years allows us to identify red flags, especially if there is unexplained or undeclared wealth,"Akbayan Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party Rafaela David said.

(We should flood every repository with our request for their SALNs.)

“Inaasahan po namin na babalik na normal iyong kalakaran sa Ombudsman [sa pag-release ng SALN]. Malaking anomalya ‘yung parakaran ni dating Ombudsman Martires na hinarangan niya iyong paglalabas ng SALN ng matataas na opisylaes. Ito po ang bare minimum sa transparency. This is a test for Ombudsman Remulla, too, of his commitment to justice, transparency and accountability,” Francis Aquino Dee, convenor of Buhay ang People Power Network, added.

(We expect the Ombudsman to return to longstanding policy in releasing SALNs to the public. Former Ombudsman Martires’ policy of restricting SALNs is an anomaly.)

David then said that leadership by example should also prompt the subject officials of their SALN request to publicly disclose their SALNs on their own.

“Sana hindi na nila hintayin ang Ombudsman na maglabas ng SALN nila. Sila mismo, ilabas na nila ang SALN nila to be give and example and show their commitment to transparency and accountability,” David added.

(They need not wait for the Ombudsman to release their SALNs. They should release their SALNs now.)

Marcos won't hinder release of his SALN

Malacañang, meanwhile, said the Marcos won't hinder the release of his SALN.

“Sa Ombudsman? Hintayin na lamang po nila, hindi naman po pipigilan ng Pangulo 'yan. Hintayin po nila ang magiging tugon ng Ombudsman,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Thursday.

(Before the Ombudsman? They should wait, the President will not hinder that. They should wait for the response of the Ombudsman.)

GMA News Online has reached out to the camps of Duterte and Martires but they have yet to reply as of posting time.

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, Article 1 of the 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.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News