Ombudsman lifts restrictions on access to SALN

The Office of the Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has issued a memo lifting the restriction on access to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of public officials.

In an unnumbered memorandum circular issued on Tuesday, Oct. 14, Remulla has set the parameters on how the public can access the SALNs of public officials.

“This decision is guided by a simple principle: The public has a legitimate right to know how those in government acquire and manage their wealth. Transparency in this area is not a slogan — it is a safeguard against corruption and a deterrent to abuse of power,” the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement.

All SALN requests must be submitted using the official SALN Request Form (Annex “A”) in two copies, and must be signed and sworn before an authorized officer of this Office, unless there is a subpoena or official request from a quasi-judicial or investigative body.

It's also required that the requesting party present at least two original IDs, one of which must be government-issued, and pay the reproduction or certification fee. Special provisions apply for media and student requesting parties.

Copies of SALNs will be provided upon request, except:

• The Ombudsman is not the official repository
• The requested SALN is not on file
• The request is for an unauthorized commercial purpose
• The requesting party has a derogatory record of misuse
• The request is linked to a pending case to influence or harass
• There is evidence of extortion or safety threats
• The identity of the requesting party is fictitious
• The purpose is contrary to law, morals, or public policy

All SALN requests will be assessed by a processing officer and reviewed by the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office or the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau. Requests involving grounds for denial shall be referred to the Office of Legal Affairs.

Certain personal details will be redacted from released copies for security, including the declarant and co-declarant's full address, signatures, government IDs, and the names, date of birth, and ages of unmarried minors living under the declarant’s care.

For those who will publish or broadcast the SALNs, they also need to submit a copy of their reports to the Ombudsman, who may use these to monitor the information’s use, prevent misuse, and initiate investigations if the content suggests "potential misuse, misrepresentation, or a violation of the requesting party’s undertaking.”

Before this, Remulla said that members of the media can immediately request SALNs of public officials.

"That should not be a problem. I know I’m opening a can of worms, but so be it,” he said during a press briefing.

The Malacañang on Monday expressed support for lifting restrictions on public access to SALNs. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the executive branch, including President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is ready to comply.

“Kung ano naman po ang nararapat at kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas at kung ano ang makakabuti para malabanan ang korapsiyon ay tatalima naman po ang lahat ng nasa executive department," she said on Monday.

The latest memo overturns the order of his predecessor, Samuel Martires, through memorandum circular no. 1 in September 2020, which stated that SALNs can only be released with either the official's consent or a court order. (with reports from Daphne Galvez)