Palace lauds release of financial statements by two SC justices

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Friday lauded the separate moves of Supreme Court Justices Antonio Carpio and Maria Lourdes Sereno to make public their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made heaped praises on the two justices a day after he dared Chief Justice Renato Corona, who faces an impeachment trial by the Senate, to disclose his SALN to prove he could afford a luxury condominium unit in Taguig.

Members of the House of Representatives who are prosecuting Corona on eight articles of impeachment, including alleged corruption, recently revealed his ownership of a 300-plus-square-meter penthouse unit at The Bellagio that supposedly cost P14.5 million.

“The cause of justice can have no sturdier shield than the integrity of those who are tasked with discharging it. The decision of Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Maria Lourdes Sereno to release the summaries of their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth upon the request of concerned citizens is commendable to the highest degree,” Lacierda said in a statement.

“A judge with nothing to hide is a judge with nothing to fear: officials who serve the people with fidelity have everything to gain, and nothing to lose, from embracing transparency and accountability,” he added.

“While there are those who prefer to hide, and who shun our people, the executive department believes that demonstrating faith in the Filipino is the surest and best way to obtain, and retain, public confidence,” Lacierda said.