EDITORIAL - Where are your SALNs?

Helpful leads on possible tax evasion, corruption and money laundering can be gleaned by comparing the annual tax returns with the official asset declarations of public officials and employees.

This is why there was widespread appreciation for the move of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to ease the restrictions on public access to the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of government officials.

Public access to SALNs is provided under Republic Act 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. RA 6713 is the enabling law for the constitutional provision on public accountability of those in government.

Remulla’s move lifted the veil of secrecy that his predecessor Samuel Martires had placed over the SALNs on the pretext that the asset declarations were being weaponized. But that’s exactly what the SALN is: a weapon against thievery in government.

Since Remulla issued the new guidelines for SALN access, all senators and several congressmen have released their latest asset declarations. The ombudsman is not a repository of lawmakers’ SALNs, so the release is laudable.

The lawmakers want to show that they have nothing to hide, as public opprobrium is heaped on Congress for its members’ role in the budget and flood control corruption scandal.

Now what about the other top officials of the land, including many other congressmen?

The offices of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte have been declaring their readiness to release the SALNs – an annual routine before Rodrigo Duterte became president. But so far, this has remained an unfulfilled promise.

Groups have formally requested the SALNs of the President, Vice President as well as the heads and members of the constitutional bodies.

Members of the judiciary starting with the Supreme Court have also yet to allow public access to their official asset declarations.

SALN issues led to the ouster of Renato Corona as chief justice by an impeachment court, the quo warranto ouster of Ma. Lourdes Sereno as CJ by her peers, and the near-impeachment of Marvic Leonen as SC justice.

The SC became the first government arm to place SALNs under lock and key. Martires, a retired SC justice, expanded the secrecy to the entire government. Is the high tribunal, itself currently under fire over public accountability issues, ready to lift the veil of secrecy?

Remulla himself has yet to make his SALN public. If he shows that his commitment to transparency is not just mere rhetoric, top public officials can follow his lead.