Speaker urges full disclosure of gov’t Officials’ net worth amid flood scandal

HOUSE SPEAKER Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday said all government officials should release their yearly net worth records to help regain public trust amid a widening scandal involving bogus flood control deals.

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“Everyone's SALN (statement of assets, liabilities and net worth) should be visible and open, so we can truly be transparent to Filipinos and restore their trust in us,” he told reporters in Filipino.

Despite longstanding laws enforcing SALNs, public access has been increasingly curtailed in recent years. A 2020 memorandum by the Office of the Ombudsman has tightened restrictions by requiring consent from officials before release.

Net worth records should be made available for inspection and copying after 10 working days from the time they were filed, according to a 2009 Ombudsman memorandum, and should be made available to the public for up to 10 years from its submission.

“It’s necessary for them to see [all SALNs], not just those in Congress,” Mr. Dy said, adding that he’s willing to release his own net worth records if called upon.

House Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V said there are gaps in laws governing SALNs, specifically in allowing access. “That’s the number one gap there. I don’t see anything wrong with making SALNs public,” he told reporters.

“Reforms to the SALN framework are worth considering,” Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor at the University of Makati, said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “At present, the law technically allows public access, but the restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles make it difficult in practice.”