Since the enactment in 1989 of Republic Act 6713 the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees top government officials led by the president of the republic have released to the public their annual official statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN.
Until the Duterte administration came along. For an administration that touts the anti-corruption campaign as a priority alongside the war against illegal drugs, it is significant that Malacañang is going along with a memorandum of the Office of the Ombudsman, issued in September last year, that effectively stops the public release of a SALN without the notarized and written consent of the official.
This is probably because Ombudsman Samuel Martires, prior to his appointment as vanguard against corruption and custodian of the SALNs, served for a year in the Supreme Court, where SALN issues have been used in the ouster of two chief justices. Martires released his memorandum as the issue was again raised in connection with another SC associate justice, Marvic Leonen.
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Martires has explained that the provision on SALNs in RA 6713 has become “weaponized” for political purposes. If you worry about things being weaponized, you can never get things done in this world. A kitchen knife can kill; for that matter, even a cooking pan can be used to fatally smash someone’s head. Many construction tools can be used for murder. Even motor vehicles can be used to harm an enemy.
In the interest of transparency and good governance, President Duterte can lead by example and simply give the Office of the Ombudsman the green light to release his SALN. Vice President Leni Robredo has released her latest SALN and it hasn’t been “weaponized” against her. Instead Malacañang says the release of the President’s SALN is up to Martires.
Senators and other key officials can also lead by example and release their SALNs, which they have done regularly until Martires issued his memorandum. If there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear. In line with this admonition, those who have something to hide are the ones who will likely shield their SALNs from public scrutiny.