Ombudsman: House to comply with SALN request amid flood control probe

CAMP JOHN HAY, Baguio City — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday said the House of Representatives has decided to comply with the Office of the Ombudsman’s request for the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of House members amid the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Remulla made the announcement a week after he called out the Office of the House Secretary General for denying Ombudsman prosecutors’ request for the SALNs, citing the supposed need for approval by the House through a plenary vote.

“Magko-comply daw sila,” Remulla told reporters on the sidelines of the Ombudsman’s planning conference here.

“It is the Office of the House Secretary General that is tasked with dispatching these SALNs, and some members of the House leadership have already told us that they will comply,” he added.

The House Secretary General is Cheloy Garafil.

Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, expressly mandates that Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth must be made available for inspection during reasonable hours and for copying after 10 working days from the time they are filed, subject to prescribed regulations.

Likewise, Article XI, Section 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.”—MCG, GMA Integrated News