Marcos, Cabinet officials ready to publish net worth

THE presidential palace on Monday said members of the Executive branch including President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., are open to publicizing their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), following the new Ombudsman’s plan to lift restrictions as calls for government transparency intensify.

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“Whatever is proper, in accordance with the law and beneficial in the fight against corruption — everyone in the Executive branch will comply,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino. “Everyone in the Executive branch is ready.”

The Philippines is probing a multi-billion-peso public works scam after Mr. Marcos’ pronouncements during his fourth state of the nation address, where he accused lawmakers of receiving kickbacks in various infrastructure projects.

This opened a can of worms as various government branches launched their own inquiries, further uncovering irregularities in infrastructure spending and prompting renewed scrutiny of accountability and transparency in public service.

The President also appointed former Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla as ombudsman and established an independent body to probe public work scams.