MMDA chief: No new assets, just different SALN form
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – An agitated Francis Tolentino, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief, cried foul over “insinuations” his wealth had increased as shown by a government officials’ 2011 and 2012 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth released by Malacanang on Friday.
“My SALN for 2011 and 2012 were the same; there was no increase. There were no new assets or properties acquired, no new improvements, just a new SALN form, [which] adds [to the assets] my existing declared [property] improvements,” Tolentino said.
The MMDA chief said that in the old SALN form, before the Civil Service Commission released a revised SALN form effective 2012, the property improvements were not added to the assets or to the total net worth, and were listed on another page as an attachment.
Tolentino said that his 2011 and 2012 SALN listed the same assets and improvements, but the assets and their improvements were calculated and listed together in one column in the 2012 SALN. “Naturally, the [figures appear to] increase,” he said.
In an attempt to preempt misinterpretation, he said, he even put a footnote on his 2012 SALN, marked by an asterisk, explaining the change in declaration.
“I was honest; I declared everything. I stated the reason for the discrepancy today is because of the new form, which necessitated the addition of improvements in one column” along with the assets, he said.
“Even before being asked, my explanation is already there on my SALN form. You can’t be more honest and transparent than that,” he said.
He also denied reports he had submitted three SALNs, with different net worth as of Dec. 31, 2012. “It is not true I submitted three SALNs for one year, unless somebody can show that to me. That’s not allowed,” he said. “Maybe they’re looking at my 2010, 2011, 2012 SALNs.”
The Malacañang list showed Tolentino had a net worth of P22,540,381.52 in 2011, and a P43,773,691.02 in 2012, or a P21,233,309.5 change of net worth declaration in one year.
The MMDA chief asked for an apology from whoever made it appear he had almost doubled his wealth in a span of a year. “If they don’t apologize, there is an insinuation there,” he complained.
