House restriction on SALN ‘repressive’

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Saturday objected to a House resolution restricting public access to the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of government officials and employees, including congressmen.

The NUJP questioned why House Resolution No. 2467 now required majority consent to release lawmakers’ SALN when there is no such restriction in the Constitution or Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

“We find it ironic that a document meant to help advance transparency in government is now being subjected to so many rules and restrictions by the very people entrusted to craft the laws of the land,” the group said in a statement.

Lawmakers on Wednesday voted to adopt HR 2467, which lays down the rules in the filing, review and disclosure of, and access to, the SALN of its members, officials and employees of the House of Representatives.

But critics slammed the resolution as “repressive” and “stringent,” saying these new rules would benefit only corrupt lawmakers and their employees.

“Government officials are fond of saying that those who have nothing to hide should not fear disclosure nor scrutiny. Why then should members of the House fear these now?” the NUJP said.

The group said HR 2467, with its litany of procedures and conditions, contradicted the principles of transparency and accountability required by the Constitution or RA 6713.

“HR 2467 and Congress’ continued failure to pass the Freedom of Information Bill gives us reason to suspect this legislature intends to reverse whatever advances in honest and transparent governance have been made through the years,” the group said.

Aside from questioning the requirement of plenary approval, the NUJP also scored the House measure charging a fee of P300 for every copy of SALN, supposedly to cover the “cost of reproduction and certification.”

To obtain copies of SALNs of all House members for a single year, requesting parties would have to shell out nearly P90,000, NUJP said.

Under HR 2467, a SALN request shall include a sworn declaration listing the specific manner in which information from a SALN may or may not be used even before it is brought to the plenary session.

This will also be vetted by a committee on review and compliance, which may or may not approve the request.

Members of media must also submit a sworn proof of media affiliation and a certification of the accreditation of the media organization, but which, the NUJP said, discriminated against freelance journalists.

The House resolution also purportedly allows portions of the SALNs to be redacted, including the congressman’s businesses, financial interests, and relatives in government.

“[This] could prove crucial in weeding out conflicts of interest and other anomalies,” the NUJP said.

But House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro said the measure was meant to protect congressmen and their employees.

“This measure only tries to protect the safety of House members and their employees from information that can be derived in the SALN falling into the hands of unscrupulous individuals,” he said at a press forum in Quezon City.

The Capiz lawmaker said the rules imposed by provisions of HR 2467 are not new, as lawmakers have been continuously working on these since the 15th Congress.