Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday questioned why the Office of the Ombudsman would put up a ‘show’ by issuing an order reopening access to statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs), claiming that it was only done ‘for a motive.’
Duterte was wondering why Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla had to issue a memorandum that finally allows access to all government officials’ SALNs, saying it was already a practice as far as she can remember.
‘I don’t know why they have orders that would allow access to SALN, when SALNs can be obtained even before,’ Duterte said at a press conference in Manaoag, Pangasinan, a recording of which was provided to journalists in Manila.
‘You will just write to the Ombudsman and ask for the SALN of that person,’ she also said.
Duterte recalled that her SALN had already been accessed by journalists, particularly from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), but this was in 2019 or way before then-Ombudsman Samuel Martires imposed restrictions on obtaining a SALN.
Other media outlets also had access to her SALN, as well as former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, according to her.
Martires-an appointee of Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte-issued a memorandum circular when he was the Ombudsman in 2020 that restricted the release of SALNs of government officials and employees.
He even told the budget panel at the House of Representatives that he would maintain the policy even if he received criticisms, which he did.
Martires also refused requests from journalists and lawyers for copies of the document, insisting that Republic Act No. 6713, or the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees, disallows journalists from commenting on SALNs.
But the same law he cited also states that ‘the public has the right to know’ the SALNs of all government officials and employees.
For Duterte, however, Remulla’s order was all a ‘show,’ insisting on her claim that SALNs can be accessed before the latter assumed office.
‘I don’t understand why they would come up with this story that [the public] can finally get copies of SALNs. And I am sure it was for a reason, it has a motive,’ Duterte said.