LOOK: Makabayan bloc releases their SALNs; Marcos, Duterte urged to do the same
The representatives of the Makabayan bloc have made public their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth, urging other government officials to follow suit, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
On the coalition's Facebook account, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan Rep. Renee Co, and Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Sarah Elago have released their financial positions "in the spirit of transparency and accountability."
Tinio, who had filed his SALN on July 1, was shown to have P10,937,815.30, meanwhile, Co's net worth is P280,000.
Photo from Koalisyong Makabayan
Photo from Koalisyong Makabayan
Photo from Koalisyong Makabayan
Photo from Koalisyong Makabayan
Photo from Koalisyong Makabayan
Photo from Koalisyong Makabayan
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Elago, who had filed hers on Sept. 17, meanwhile had a net worth of P1,039,600.
"The bloc now challenges Pres. Ferdinand '[Bongbong]' Marcos Jr, Vice President Sara Duterte and all government officials elected or appointed to do the same," they stressed.
Marcos previously expressed his willingness to make his SALN public.
"My SALN, it will be available to whoever would like to [see it]. Kung hingiin sa akin ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure, syempre ibibigay ko. Kung hingin sa'kin Ombudsman ibibigay namin,'' he told reporters.
He further assured that he will urge his Cabinet members to do the same.
"We’ll follow the old rules. These old rules were suspended in the last administration where the SALN was much easier to get a copy of the SALN and to examine it," Marcos said.
"I was quite surprised to find out when I first came into office that that was no longer the case. That it was almost impossible, in fact, to get a copy of people’s SALN. And so, we are just going back to the old procedure and we will follow that, whatever happens," he added.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla recently lifted the restriction on access to the SALN of public officials.
“This decision is guided by a simple principle: The public has a legitimate right to know how those in government acquire and manage their wealth. Transparency in this area is not a slogan—it is a safeguard against corruption and a deterrent to abuse of power,” the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement.
The latest memo overturns the order of his predecessor, Samuel Martires, through Memorandum Circular no. 1 in September 2020, which stated that SALNs can only be released with either the official's consent or a court order.
