A memorandum lifting the restrictions on access to Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) will be issued next week, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Remulla said this in a press briefing on Friday, saying that his office aims to release the document ‘hopefully by Wednesday.’
‘We’re just preparing the mechanics, but next week, maybe it’ll be okay if we start releasing this. The earliest is next week,’ he noted.
‘I will ask them to make this information available. But of course, we need the requesting parties to ask for information, but not blanket, because they can be weaponized. What we need is for us to have an undertaking to ensure public interest,’ he explained.
He added that the ombudsman will soon open its doors to the public to make it a true ‘sumbungan ng bayan’ (public’s grievance platform).
Remulla said the office plans to crowdsource information for lifestyle checks and complaints, noting that investigations will no longer rely solely on fact-finding teams, but will also gather input directly from citizens through an open communication line.
This reiterates his earlier pronouncement that his office will use crowdsourcing of information about individuals who should be investigated in public.
Access to SALN was restricted during the tenure of Ombudsman Samuel Martires through Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2020.
The memorandum requires anyone requesting access to a SALN to present a notarized letter of authority from the declarant, effectively barring the public and the media from obtaining copies unless allowed by the official concerned.
Aside from this move, Remulla earlier said there will also be crowdsourcing of information, allowing the public to submit details on individuals who should be investigated. /apl