OMB calls on Judiciary, Congress to open SALNs

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has urged two other branches of government— legislative and judiciary—to allow public access to their officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).

- CZARINA NICOLE ONG KI, DHEL NAZARIO, and ELLSON QUISMORIO

The move was welcomed by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, four other senators, and House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.

The OMB, through Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic Clavano IV, issued the call during an interview on Wednesday, Oct. 15, over DZBB Dobol B TV.

Clavano said there are SALNs submitted in which the OMB is not the official repository like those of the officials of the Judiciary and Congress.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla had earlier scrapped the restriction on the public’s access to SALNs of government officials in a memorandum circular.

Clavano said that when former Ombudsman Samuel Martires imposed strict guidelines in the access to the SALNs of executive officials in 2020, those in the Judiciary and Congress followed suit.

Now that the previous restrictions had been reversed by Ombudsman Remulla’s Memorandum Circular No. 3, Clavano expressed hopes that those in the Judiciary and Congress would adhere to the new circular on SALNs.

“We urged judiciary and legislative officials to follow the policy of transparency,” he said.

In issuing the memorandum on SALNs, Remulla said the decision to open up the public’s access is anchored in the principle of transparency and as a deterrent to corruption and abuse of power.

"The public deserves proof, not promises, that integrity still has a place in public service," he said.

Some lawmakers open to idea Sotto said he is ready anytime to make his SALN public.

In his earlier stint as Senate president, Sotto said they allowed access to the SALNs of the senators, subject to the individual's approval.