The importance of disclosure

Normally, there’s no problem or shame if your father names his company after you or after your initials.

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That’s part of the freedom of doing business, and the relationships between fathers and their children.

But not all businesses and paternal relations are the same. Some are more important and more beneficial than others.

The problem or shame starts if you are a high government official, making your name or initials too precious and too untouchable. The problem or shame gets worse if your father’s business involves getting government contracts.

I don’t know which gets a bigger problem or shame here. You or the public. Because in this hypothetical example, taxpayer funds are involved.

There are other hypothetical examples, like businessmen becoming lawmakers, and former lawmakers turning into businessmen. In such instances, divestment would prevent any problem.

But if lawmakers continue to do business while in office, and former lawmakers-turned-business mobilize their lawmaking knowledge for the benefit of their business, there would be many problems to the public the lawmaker swore to serve and with the law one pledged to obey.

The recent decision of the new Ombudsman to end strict requirements on the disclosure of Statements of Assets, Liability and Net-worth is thus a welcome development.

Public officials and public servants are required to submit their sworn SALNs annually.