The recent decision by the Office of the Ombudsman to reopen public access to the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of government officials marks a significant victory for transparency and accountability in our government. This move, reversing the restrictive policy under former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, rightly acknowledges that the Filipino people have an undeniable right to know how their public servants acquire and manage wealth. However, restoring access to SALNs, while commendable, should not be mistaken as the endpoint of transparency reforms. As highlighted by House Assistant Majority Leader Mark Anthony Santos, transparency should be a comprehensive, institutionalized practice-not a patchwork of isolated disclosures. The long-overdue Freedom of Information (FOI) bill remains the linchpin in this effort.
The FOI bill, pending in Congress for nearly 30 years, is the legal backbone that would empower citizens to scrutinize government operations beyond personal wealth declarations. It would mandate government agencies to release records, contracts, and transactions that reveal how public funds are spent and programs are executed. This is precisely the kind of openness needed to deter corruption, prevent abuses like the ghost projects scandal, and ensure that public servants are held accountable at every level.
The history of the FOI bill is a saga of delay and missed opportunities, despite its clear constitutional mandate under Article III, Section 7. The persistent lobbying by champions such as the late Rep. Ernesto Ruffa, Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, and others shows the enduring demand for transparency among lawmakers themselves. The current iteration, supported by a broad coalition in both the House and Senate-including Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Senate President Vicente Sotto III-provides a real chance for passage.
The timing could not be more crucial. The Ombudsman’s transparency move, coupled with growing public outrage over corruption scandals, sets the perfect political climate for Congress to act decisively. Passing the FOI bill would institutionalize transparency as the norm rather than the exception and would complement the SALN disclosure policy by opening the floodgates to information on how government operates.
Moreover, transparency must be paired with accountability mechanisms. Calls for a strict ‘one-strike policy’ against corrupt officials in agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways are necessary corollaries. Transparency without enforcement risks becoming an empty gesture.
Reopening SALNs to public scrutiny is a welcome milestone but not the finish line. The real test of our government’s commitment to transparency and good governance lies in passing the FOI bill. It is time for Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty and the people’s right to know. Only then can we hope to restore genuine public trust and build a government that serves with integrity and openness.
Transparency is not a privilege but a right. The people deserve nothing less than full access to information that affects their lives and their future.