Lawmakers, gov’t execs warned vs SALN gaps

MANILA, Philippines—With the deadline for the filing of statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) drawing nearer, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chair Secretary Francisco Duque on Friday warned lawmakers and government officials that a “wide discrepancy” between their declared net worth in 2011 and 2010 would raise a red flag that would prompt authorities to probe deeper into their actual wealth.

Irregularities are clues

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez echoed the warning on Friday, saying that a noticeable disparity in the 2011 and 2010 SALNs could mean that a lawmaker or government official had been understating his personal fortune over the years.

He said that lawmakers and government officials should be ready to explain the discrepancy to avoid being charged with violation of the code of conduct

Rodriguez said workers in the bureaucracy who failed to make a full report in their SALN, such as indicating only the fair market value of a property while neglecting to disclose its acquisition cost, its assessed value and improvements undertaken, were likely to appear to be making wild swings in their statements.

People employed by the government have up to April 30 this year to submit their 2011 SALNs.

The declarations are expected to receive closer public scrutiny this year in the wake of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is being accused by prosecutors of failing to fully disclose all his properties and of depressing the value of his assets.

Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said that a mere discrepancy in the SALNs, such as the valuation of the property, might not be a violation in itself.

Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, a member of the House prosecution team, also said that a simple variance between this year’s SALN and the previous year’s should not immediately arouse suspicion.

“If the net worth remains static from year to year, that is a red flag that the SALN is contrived. Generally, SALN values should vary from year to year because it’s well nigh impossible that the year-end cash balance, for instance, would be exactly the same from year to year,” said Aggabao.