Public may again request officials' SALNs. Here's how.
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has lifted a four-year restriction on public access to government officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), reopening the way for citizens, media, and civil groups to request copies under new procedural rules.
The Ombudsman on Tuesday, Oct. 14, officially repealed its 2020 memorandum under Duterte administration's Samuel Martires that had limited access to SALNs.
Under the new rules, all requests must be made through a prescribed "SALN Request Form"—except when covered by a subpoena or an official request from a quasi-judicial or investigative body, or as otherwise determined by the Ombudsman.
Each request must be filed in duplicate, subscribed and sworn before an authorized Ombudsman officer. Requests may be lodged with any Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office, or PACPO, at the Central Office or with regional Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureaus, or PACPB.
If a request concerns an official not covered by existing lists or a newly created office, the Central Office will serve as the default repository. Applicants must shoulder reproduction and certification costs.
Identification and review process. Applicants are required to present at least two valid IDs, one of which must be government-issued. Additional provisions apply to requests filed by media or students.
Each request will be assessed by a processing officer and reviewed by the PACPO or PACPB. Cases involving grounds for denial will be elevated to the Office of Legal Affairs. Approved requests will be released “within a reasonable period,” the guidelines state.
When requests may be denied
Access may be denied in specific circumstances, including when:
- The Ombudsman is not the official repository of the requested SALN.
- The SALN is not on file.
- The request is made for an unauthorized commercial purpose.
- The requester has a record of misuse.
- The request is linked to an attempt to influence or harass a party in a pending case.
- There is evidence of extortion or safety risks.
- The requester’s identity is fictitious.
- The purpose violates law, morals, or public policy.
Redactions and privacy safeguards
Certain personal information will be redacted to protect officials and their families, including:
- Complete home address of the declarant.
- Names, birthdates, and ages of unmarried children below 18 living in the household.
- Signatures of the declarant and co-declarant.
- Government-issued identification numbers.
Released SALNs will include a watermark, control number, and disclaimer identifying them as redacted copies issued to a specific requester.
Publication and compliance requirements
Any party that publishes or broadcasts material derived from a SALN must submit a copy or link of the output to the Ombudsman within five calendar days of dissemination.
These submissions will allow the Ombudsman to monitor use of SALN data and ensure that reporting aligns with the stated purpose of the request. The office may initiate an investigation if potential misuse or misrepresentation is found.
Non-submission of published material will be considered a violation of the requester’s undertaking and may lead to denial of future SALN requests.
For lifestyle checks: The Ombudsman also advised that individuals with evidence of assets disproportionate to a public official’s income should file a formal complaint with the Field Investigation Office instead of a SALN request. Such complaints must include details on the official’s assets, lifestyle, income sources, and supporting evidence.
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