Zarate wants all gov’t officials, personnel to reveal bank deposits

Bayan Muna Rep.Carlos Isagani Zarate on Monday urged the Duterte administration to support the passage of a law that will look into local and foreign currency deposits of all elected and appointed officials and employees.

Zarate said this as the House has yet to release the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of the representatives for 2017.

The delay was reportedly because the House has yet to finalize the rules on the release of these public documents.

READ: How rich are House solons? Nobody knows

SALN of Bayan Muna Rep. Isagani Zarate / Photo courtesy of the office of Rep. Zarate

SALN of Bayan Muna Rep. Isagani Zarate / Photo courtesy of the office of Rep. Zarate

The opposition lawmaker said the alleged undisclosed bank accounts of some officials and employees are issues that continue to hound all anti-corruption campaigns.

The Bank Secrecy Law, he added, has become an “unwitting shield and refuge of corrupt officials and employees.”

“If the present Duterte administration war on corruption is not just about bluster, it should support the passage of House Bill 7146,” Zarate further said in a statement.

Zarate also sent to reporters a copy of his 2017 SALN, which showed a P1.647-million worth of net worth, a slight increase from his 2016 net worth of P1.351 million.

Under House Bill 7146 filed by Zarate, aside from the SALN, government officials and employees would be required to submit a written waiver for the Ombudsman to examine, inquire or look into all their bank deposits, as an additional exception to RA No.1405 or the Bank Secrecy Law.

READ: Bill seeks to exclude public officials from bank secrecy law

Zarate said the primary purpose of the bill is to curb graft and corruption, “especially in the higher echelons of government where it is rife,” as positions like cabinet secretaries, senators, congressmen even up to the president are included in the scope of the bill.  /vvp