SC approves release of SALN of justices, judges

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the release in full of the 2011 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of all justices and judges around the country.

Acting high court spokesperson lawyer Gleo Guerra said the high court shall formulate a guideline on the release of the SALN, which will be taken up in its special en banc session on June 13.

“The release of the SALN was a collective decision of the court,” Guerra said.

The country has about 2,000 justices and judges.

The special en banc session was called by acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio. Only Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin are absent during the special en banc session. Guerra said both are in Baguio for a lecture.

Guerra explained that the high court’s decision in effect overruled the 1989 ruling in the Alejandrino case where the high court unanimously voted to deny the request for SALN, which are directly or indirectly traced to a litigant, lawyer or any party with a pending case before the court.

The 1989 ruling stated that there has to be a “legitimate reason” for such a request as well as good faith and not fish for information that can be used to influence a court’s decision.

The 1989 ruling of the high court was reiterated in 1992, when in a resolution the high court said the disclosure of SALNs not only of high court justices but justices from the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, lower court judges and court personnel have been restricted to shield them from acts that may “endanger, diminish or destroy their independence and objectivity in the performance of their judicial functions.”

“In effect [overruling the Alejandrino case] is the net effect,” Guerra said but clarified that it is a disclosure of SALN but not a waiver.

Chief Justice Renato Corona signed an unconditional waiver allowing the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to look into his bank accounts and business interest.

Corona’s act has been hailed as a good start to show transparency in the government with some members of Congress and Senator Francis Escudero signing similar waiver and challenged the other government officials to do the same.

Corona, however, has been removed from office after he admitted that he did not include in his SALN his $2.4 million deposit into 4 bank accounts and P80 million deposit in three bank accounts.