AKBAYAN party-list lawmakers yesterday released redacted copies of their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) to set an example to their colleagues as they call for transparency and accountability in the face of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order for a lifestyle check on all government officials.
In a statement, Reps. Jose Manuel Diokno, Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula, along with Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, who was also a former Akbayan representative, urged their colleagues at the House of Representatives to follow suit.
“At a time when trust in government is at its lowest, words are not enough. We, as public servants, must show through concrete action that transparency and accountability are more than promises – they are obligations,” they said.
“How can our people place their faith in our institutions if we cannot live up to the most basic duty of public office: to serve with responsibility, integrity, and efficiency; to act always with patriotism and justice; and to lead modest lives?” they also said.
“Public service is not about power or privilege. It is about earning and keeping the trust of the very people we are sworn to serve. For this reason, the Akbayan Reform Bloc is disclosing and committing to regularly publish our Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). This is not just a matter of compliance, but a commitment to openness and honesty in public service,” they added.
The Akbayan bloc and Bag-ao then called “on our fellow lawmakers — especially our colleagues in the House of Representatives — to join us in this effort.”
“Let us take this crucial step together to rebuild the trust of our people and strengthen our democracy,” they said.
The Akbayan bloc released the SALNs after the President last week ordered a lifestyle check starting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as part of anti-corruption moves by the administration amid mounting allegations of irregularities in flood control projects.
The President’s directive instructs oversight bodies – including the Commission on Audit, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and local governments – to intensify checks on the lifestyles of government officials, with DPWH officials linked to questionable projects first in line.
The SALNs sent to members of the media showed that Bag-ao has the highest net worth with P15.05 million, followed by Diokno with P13.13 million, Ismula with P3.246 million and Cendaña who has P1 million.
The SALN showed that Bag-ao’s three real properties are worth P1.745 million in total, while her other personal belongings are worth P17.88 million. She has liabilities worth P4.575 million.
Diokno, a human rights lawyer before he became a lawmaker, has properties worth a total of P3 million, while his personal properties, which included shares of stocks, are worth P13.18 million. He has P50,625 in liabilities.
Ismula’s only real property is worth P2.370 million, while his personal belongings, including cash and jewelry, are worth P1.675 million. She has P798,953 in liabilities.
Cendaña did not declare any real property. His assets are P200,000 worth of appliances and P800,000 in cash and has no liabilities.
