Marcos won't hinder release of his SALN — Palace

Malacañang on Thursday ensured that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. would not hinder the release of his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) as some groups have already requested for it before the Office of the Ombudsman.

''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.)

This came after the Akbayan party-list and other groups requested the Office of the Ombudsman the release of Marcos' SALN, as well as that of Vice President Sara Duterte, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, and other constitutional commission officials.

Castro earlier said the President is ready to release his SALN to the “proper authorities,” provided that the procedures are followed.

Marcos had said that he is is willing to make public his SALN, adding that he would enjoin his Cabinet members to do the same.

Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a memorandum scrapping the restriction on access to SALNs of public officials, as he cited transparency in removing the need for consent on the part of the public officer whose SALN is being requested.

The memorandum covers the President, Vice President, the heads of Constitutional Offices, and local government officials, as the Ombudsman is the official repository of the SALNs of such officials.

Under the memo, a request for a copy of a public official’s SALN may be filed before the Ombudsman’s Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office at the Central Office, or any Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau of the Ombudsman’s regional or sectoral offices. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News