Senate seeks deferment of new SALN form, cites privacy issues

MANILA, Philippines—The looming infringement on an official’s privacy appears to be the reason behind the Senate’s plan to request the Civil Service Commission to defer the implementation of a new form of statement of assets, liabilities and net worth that government employees are required to submit yearly.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, chair of the Senate civil service committee,  said the chamber was set to adopt a resolution urging the CSC to reconsider the plan as the existing SALN form “already complies with the requirements of the Constitution and present laws,” including the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

Trillanes will sponsor the resolution on Tuesday that he said would be given to the CSC so it could be used as basis for review.

Trillanes is “confident that the CSC will value the input of the Senate and (will) reconsider.”

Reports that CSC chair Francisco Duque has prepared a new SALN form that requires government officials and employees to reveal more details of their personal expenses had raised fears that this would inadvertently expose to the public more details of their lifestyle.

Under the new SALN form, a public executive will be required to reveal even their personal and family expenses.

Personal expenses include allowances for mobile phone plans, toiletries, food, clothing and travel.

Family expenses are made up of electric and water consumption, food and groceries, Internet and cable connections, tuition, and loan and mortgage payments.

The current SALN form only requires officials to specify their assets, liabilities and business interests, financial connections and relatives in government service.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III filed a resolution that resulted in a Senate hearing on the CSC’s new SALN form.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile thought the new SALN “complicates” the disclosure requirement for government officials.

Senate majority leader Tito Sotto complained after the hearing that the new SALN “is causing panic (“maraming natataranta”)” because of the details required.

Specifically, Sotto said he had misgivings about house expenses, especially for toiletries, which the new SALN form wants listed down.

In an interview, Sotto suggested that an improvement of the SALN would be to require officials to just reveal the acquisition cost of real properties instead of having to keep tab of their assessed values and fair market values as required now.

Pimentel earlier warned that the new SALN form might result in “useless complaints” against government workers and might eventually impose an “unnecessary burden on public officials and employees.”