SC: Public must have access to SALNs of justices

Amid calls for transparency, the Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the public's constitutional right to access information about its justices, including their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law.

- 

SC spokesperson Camille Ting explained yesterday that under Administrative Memorandum 09-8-6-SC, issued in 2012, requests for copies of the SALN, personal data sheets (PDS) and curriculum vitae (CV) of justices must be filed before the office of the Clerk of Court and are subject to approval by the SC.

“Requests must be made in writing using the SALN/PDS/CV request form available on the SC website and must state the specific purpose for which the information is sought.

Media requests must include proof of media affiliation and accreditation,” she added.

Ting also disclosed that the SC is "currently updating its rules and forms on access to information." The review of requests for justices' SALNs is necessary to protect the justices' privacy, given the sensitivity of cases they handle, Ting said in an interview during the third anniversary of the SC's Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027.

"It still will be the Supreme Court who will decide whether they will release the SALNS or not depending on the grounds and justification that you (requester) will be providing," she said.