Ombudsman reopens officials' wealth records to public, media
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has officially restored public access to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials, marking a reversal of the restrictions imposed in 2020 during the Duterte administration.
In a memorandum circular released Tuesday, October 14, the Ombudsman outlined new guidelines for requesting copies of officials’ SALNs, signaling a shift toward greater transparency.
“As the Ombudsman has emphasized, transparency is the name of the game. At a time when trust in institutions is tested, the best way to rebuild confidence is through openness backed by concrete access to information,” said Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Mico Clavano in a statement.
Clavano said the office has also called on other agencies that maintain SALN records—such as the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the President, Congress, the Judiciary, and local government units—to align their own procedures with the new rules.
“Consistency across institutions is key; selective transparency only breeds suspicion,” Clavano added.
Removing 4-year restrictions. The move effectively ends the SALN access restriction put in place during the tenure of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, which barred the public and media from obtaining copies of officials’ disclosures without a notarized letter of authority from the declarant.
That requirement has now been removed, allowing citizens, journalists and watchdog groups to file requests directly with the appropriate offices under the updated system.
While the new guidelines aim to expand access, they also require certain personal details to be redacted upon request to protect the privacy of the declarant and their family.
The following information may be withheld from released copies:
- The complete home address of the declarant;
- The names, birth dates, and ages of unmarried children under 18 living in the declarant’s household;
- The signatures of the declarant and co-declarant, if any; and
- Any government-issued identification numbers.
The Ombudsman said the new rules aim to balance public transparency with individual privacy, reinforcing accountability while safeguarding personal data.
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