Valenzuela mayor explains ‘unavailable’ SALN

MANILA, Philippines - Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian clarified yesterday that he submitted his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) as early as three weeks ago but the Office of the Ombudsman did not come out with his name in its report. 

Gatchalian was reacting to a report that came out in The STAR that his SALN, including that of two other Metro Manila mayors, “were not available for unspecified reasons.”

He told The STAR the Valenzuela City government’s human resources department submitted his SALN as early as April 30 but the Office of the Ombudsman did not accept it because it wanted all of the city officials’ SALNs submitted at the same time.

The ombudsman “wanted us to put ‘non-compliance’ on the other local officials but we cannot do that because we were still waiting for their papers. The deadline is still on May 30 and there is a grace period until June 30,” Ahna Mejia, Valenzuela public information chief, said.

Gatchalian said he has a net worth of P24.889 million, which includes P.654 million cash, cars valued at P8.093 million and securities and shares amounting to P16.141 million. 

He did not specify his liabilities.