P-Noy files SALN ahead of yesterday's deadline

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino filed his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2011 ahead of yesterday’s deadline, Malacañang said.

Aquino filed his latest SALN on April 24, in compliance with the requirements of Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

However, the Office of the Ombudsman has yet to release copies of Aquino’s SALN to the public or to media in accordance with its own internal rules.

Aquino filed his first SALN a month after he assumed office in June 2010, declaring a net worth of a little over P50.194 million.

His second SALN for was filed in April 2011, when he declared himself to be worth more than P54.999 million.

The increase in Aquino’s net worth was apparently due to the sale of one of his real properties, particularly a residential lot in Antipolo which he inherited from his parents.

Apart from Aquino, also filed with the Office of the Ombudsman were the SALNs of the Vice President and the heads of constitutional bodies like Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales who, as of June 30, 2010, claims to have a net worth of P40.749 million.

The SALNs of senators are filed with the Office of the Senate Secretary, those of the House of Representatives with the House Secretary, and Cabinet officials with the Office of the President.

For judges and justices, including justices of the Supreme Court (SC), their SALNs are filed and kept at the SC.

Meanwhile, Malacañang renewed yesterday its call on government officials, including those from the SC, to file and disclose the entries in their SALNs for the sake of transparency. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino and Cabinet members, including Vice President Jejomar Binay, had filed their SALNs in compliance with the law.

The Office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the copies were still being collated and were not yet ready for release.

Lacierda said Aquino filed his SALN on April 24 and Ochoa last April 19.

Lacierda said while he could not speak for the other Cabinet members at this time, he wrote down the acquisition costs of his properties since last year and not just the market value.

The SALN entries became controversial when Chief Justice Renato Corona was impeached and accused of having ill-gotten wealth. 

The SALN entries of Corona also supposedly did not reflect the true values of his assets. 

An SC resolution prohibits the disclosure of the SALNs of members of the judiciary.

Lacierda said they were hoping that Corona would disclose his SALN, especially since there were allegations that he has $10 million in various bank accounts.

“We certainly hope so because that would be in compliance with the constitutional provision on disclosure and filing of SALNs,” he said. “And I think nobody should be exempted from that and all government officials, especially constitutional officials mentioned in the particular provision on accountability so... including the President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, members of the Supreme Court, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) chief of staff and some others,” he said.

Lacierda said he would be one of those interested to look into the SALN of Corona.

Those who have filed their SALNs were National Economic and Development Authority director-general Cayetano Paderanga, Secretaries Rogelio Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Manuel Roxas II of transportation and communications, Jose Rene Almendras of energy, Florencio Abad of budget and management, Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff, Armin Luistro of education, Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications and Strategic Planning Office, Corazon Soliman of social welfare and development and Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

The other secretaries were Rosalinda Baldoz of labor and employment, Proceso Alcala of agriculture, Joel Rocamora of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Ronald Llamas of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority, Proceso Alcala of agriculture, Leila de Lima of justice, Enrique Ona of health, Mario Montejo of science and technology, Ramon Jimenez of tourism, Virgilio de los Reyes of agrarian reform, Cesar Purisima of finance, Patricia Licuanan of the Commission on Higher Education, Voltaire Gazmin of defense, Albert del Rosario of foreign affairs, Jesse Robredo of interior and local government, Ramon Paje of environment and natural resources, and Gregory Domingo of trade and industry. Last year, Del Rosario was recorded as the richest Cabinet member with a net worth of P627.09 million, while Luistro was poorest for having only P285,123 net worth.