Speaker Faustino Dy III has issued a memorandum reconstituting an eight-member panel tasked to review and push for the submission of the updated statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) of the 317 members of the House of Representatives.
Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez will head the SALN Review and Compliance Committee, pursuant to the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Government Officials and Employees.
The committee was tasked to ‘continue to perform its mandate as contained in House Memorandum Order 17-42 dated December 2016, and in the Rules of Procedure in the Filing, Review and Disclosure of, and Access to, the SALNs of House members and employees.
The reconstitution of the SALN Committee follows the Speaker’s statement last week that the House will review its rules on the public disclosure of members’ SALNs to ensure transparency and accountability.
Dy noted that lawmakers’ SALNs used to be open to public inspection and that Congress should consider returning to that practice.
So far, only nine congressmen have released copies of their 2025 SALN to the public.
Gatchalian declares P89.52 million net worth
Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian became the fourth senator to publicly release his SALN, where he declared P89.52 million in net worth in 2024.
It was a slight decrease from his 2020 net worth of P91.2 million, according to a summary of the SALN posted in the Senate website.
Gatchalian’s latest SALN was released yesterday as part of The STAR’s request for all 24 senators’ net worth declaration, after the ombudsman lifted restrictions on public access.
He declared two residential condominium units as his real properties, with a total acquisition cost of P40.2 million.
Gatchalian declared P49.3 million in personal properties, such as shares of stock, a P5.15 million motor vehicle and P38,062.79 cash in bank.
His shares of stock are in Win Shares, Iloilo Country Club Shares, Universal Leisure Club Shares, The Orchard Shares and Valley Golf Shares.
His total assets amount to P89.52 million. He did not declare any liabilities.
Gatchalian declared business interests as shareholder in the Gatchalian family firm Wellex Industries, Iloilo Country Club Shares, Universal Leisure Club Shares, The Orchard Shares and Valley Golf Shares.
His relatives in government, according to his SALN, are his brothers, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Valenzuela Mayor Weslie Gatchalian.
Other senators who have released their SALNs and disclosed their net worth upon reporters’ requests are Senate President Vicente Sotto III (P188.9 million) and Senators Risa Hontiveros (P18.986 million) and Robinhood Padilla (P244 million).
In another development, Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen urged members of the judiciary to speak out against corruption and avoid corrupt practices, saying there should be accountability in all offices under the Supreme Court.
Leonen said the SC launched various platforms, including integrity@judiciary.gov.ph to allow stakeholders to speak out against corruption, as part of its commitment to stamp out corruption in the judiciary.