The Office of the Ombudsman will begin keeping digital copies of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of government officials to ensure perpetual public access and improve monitoring of officials’ wealth.
At a press briefing yesterday, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said both existing and future SALNs on file will be scanned and uploaded into the ombudsman’s system, in line with Memorandum Circular No. 3, series of 2025, issued last month by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
‘This is an attempt of the ombudsman’s office to advocate for transparency as a general policy,’ Clavano said.
He explained that while hard copies of the SALNs will be retained for 20 years, the digital versions will remain accessible indefinitely.
‘Once filed, we will keep it physically for 20 years. But after that, as long as we have digital record, that will be there virtually forever,’ he said.
The measure will allow comparisons of a public official’s declared wealth over decades.
Under Section 3(c) of MC No. 3, ‘the existing inventories of SALNs on file with the Office of the Ombudsman shall not be destroyed and shall be digitally stored.’
Clavano noted that the 20-year retention period for physical SALNs aligns with the prescriptive period for filing cases under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
After that period, the documents may no longer be used as evidence in court but will remain publicly accessible for reference.
‘If it is evidence for a crime, then it can no longer be used. It’s accessible but can no longer be used in evidence. However, if it is only for purposes of comparison, then you can use SALNs even above and beyond the 20 years that is provided for in the rules,’ said Clavano.
Remulla’s MC No. 3 overturns former ombudsman Samuel Martires’ MC No. 1, series of 2020, which limited the release of SALNs unless authorized by the filer or ordered by a court. It also repeals a provision allowing the destruction of physical SALNs after 10 years without digital preservation.
Public access to SALNs will begin on Nov. 15, when MC No. 3 takes effect following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation on Oct. 31.
Requests must be filed with the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office at the ombudsman’s central office or with any Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau at area or sectoral offices.
MC No. 3 applies only to SALNs filed with the ombudsman’s central and regional offices.
Under Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, SALNs are filed with different agencies depending on the officials’ positions.
SALNs of constitutional and national elective officials – including the president and vice president – are transmitted to the ombudsman’s central office.
Those of senators and congressmen go to the secretaries of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively; justices to the Supreme Court clerk of court; trial judges to the court administrator and national executive officials to the Office of the President.
Regional and local officials must file their SALNs with the deputy ombudsman in their regions; military officers with the rank of colonel or naval captain to the OP and those below such ranks to the deputy ombudsman.
All other public officials and employees covered by Republic Act 3019 must submit their SALNs to the Civil Service Commission.