Still no SALNs from Palace men

MANILA, Philippines — Almost two years into the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) executive order, the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of Cabinet members under the Office of the President remain unavailable because the OP is still finalizing rules on releasing the documents.

The STAR requested for copies of the SALNs of all Cabinet members.

The FOI request was granted but the SALNs of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, special assistant to the President Christopher Go, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, presidential adviser on political affairs Francis Tolentino and presidential spokesman Harry Roque were not released. 

Malacañang did not release the SALNs of OP officials last year.

In a letter to The STAR, the Malacañang Records Office said OP is still crafting the procedures for the release of the SALNs.

“Please be informed that the Office of the President is still in the process of finalizing the Review and Compliance Procedures of the SALNs pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act 6713,” the letter read.

“Thus, we request for your understanding to give the Office of the President an opportunity to perform its obligation to review the requested SALN and grant the reporting official his right to be given a chance to take corrective action if necessary,” it added.

Section 10 of RA 6713 states that heads of offices should establish procedures for the review of SALNs to determine whether they have been submitted, are complete and are in proper form subject to the approval of the justice secretary in the case of the executive branch.  

The SALNs of some Cabinet members not under OP were also not available, including those of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, former social welfare department officer-in-charge Emmanuel Leyco, former agrarian reform officer-in-charge Rosalina Bistoyong, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, Interior and Local Government acting Secretary Eduardo Año, Commission on Higher Education officer-in-charge Prospero de Vera III and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director-general Guiling Mamondiong.

In 2016, President Duterte signed Executive Order 2, which requires all offices under the executive branch to release public documents and information about their transactions.

Agencies are allowed to redact some information to maintain the privacy of officials and their families. 

Higher net worth 

At least six Cabinet members posted triple digit or double digit percentage growth in their net worth last year, SALN documents obtained by The STAR showed. 

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi posted the highest increase, with his net worth ballooning by 733 percent or from P162.7 million in 2016 to P1.355 billion last year.

Cusi, one of two billionaires in the Duterte Cabinet, did not incur liabilities last year.  

The energy chief declared a total of 10 real properties. He has two commercial lots, a residential property and two agricultural lots in Oriental Mindoro, an agricultural lot in Batangas City, a residential lot in Mandaue City, one condominium unit each in San Juan City and Makati and a residential lot in Quezon City. 

Cusi also declared interests in six companies: port management firm Statlite Marine, holding firm Four Star Corp., port marine services company Dockside Port Terminals & Marine Services Inc., retailer Quick-Stop Convenience Store, information and technology firm Data Genesis Solutions Inc. and credit facilities firm PMC Finance & Investment Corp.