Ombudsman guidelines  on SALN request released

The Office of the Ombudsman has updated its website with infographics detailing the step-by-step procedure for obtaining a copy of the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of certain officials, including the President and Vice President.

The Ombudsman is not the sole repository of all SALNs. Only those of the President and Vice President; chairs and commissioners of constitutional bodies such as the commissions on elections, audit and civil service; and the Ombudsman and his deputies, may be obtained from its central office in Quezon City.

Senators’ SALNs may be requested from the Senate secretariat and lawmakers’ from the House of Representatives secretariat, while those of justices from the Supreme Court (SC), Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals may be secured from the SC clerk of court.

In a three-day conference on investigative journalism organized by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism last week in Quezon City, former Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares said the Ombudsman should be the sole custodian of all SALNs.

She added that acts of making SALN unavailable and using it to harass others should be penalized.

‘Justified reason’

While President Marcos unequivocally declared that his SALN is open to public scrutiny, then Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Cabinet officials’ SALNs may only be accessed for a justified and legitimate reason.

“We cannot just allow the indiscriminate freedom to access these SALNs,” Bersamin told reporters on Oct. 26 after the President flew to Malaysia for the 47th Asean Summit.

When he assumed office last month, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla lifted restrictions on public access to SALNs that were introduced by his predecessor, Samuel Martires, during the Duterte administration.

Based on the steps, one needs to subscribe a filled-out form before an authorized Ombudsman officer; present two IDs, including one issued by the government, plus a school “indorsement” if one’s a student, and a press ID if one’s a journalist.

Once the request is assessed, one pays P20 fee per page of reproduction. Copies will carry items that will be redacted, such as the address of the official, personal details of his minor children, signatures and government ID numbers.

“If you publish, broadcast, post anything using the SALN (including updates and reposts), send a copy or link to the salnoutput@ombudsman.gov.ph within 5 calendar days of each publication,’’ the Ombudsman says in Step No. 9.

Such submissions may be used for record-keeping, compliance checks, investigations and policy improvement. Failure to submit a copy or link may lead to denial of future requests, it added.

As of Monday morning, journalists and private individuals can request a copy of an official’s SALN, and will be redirected to another page containing further information on the process.

On Nov. 6, civil society group Akbayan submitted a request seeking copies of the SALNs of President Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte and constitutional commissions’ officials, and that of Martires.

Several media outlets, including the Inquirer, have pending requests for copies of the SALNs of Mr. Marcos and Duterte. —FAITH ARGOSINO INQ