JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said he is open to reversing the order issued by former Ombudsman Samuel Martires restricting public access to the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of government officials if he is named the Ombudsman.
“I think that could happen when I’m there already. If I get there,” Remulla told reporters after he was interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council.
He said he would also make it easier for media members to get copies of the SALN of government officials.
Remulla is among those vying for the Ombudsman post left vacant by the retirement of Martires last month after completing his 7-year term.
In his controversial order issued in 2020, Martires said the SALNs filed at the Ombudsman shall no longer be released to the public, including the members of the media, unless the requesting party has a notarized letter of authority from the owner of the SALN.
The order also states that “all requests to inspect or to take a picture of the SALN will be denied.”
Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees mandates all government officials and employees to file their SALN within 30 days after assumption of office, on or before April 30 of every year thereafter, and within 30 days after separation from the service.
SAFEGUARDS
While he is open to reversing Martires’ order, Remulla said there should also be safeguards so that the SALNs are not used to vilify or blackmail.
“Basta ‘yung taong humihingi ng SALN should write a letter of what the intention is. I think that’s the most important thing. It should not be used for vilification purposes. It should not be used for blackmail. The problem here is that people can be kidnapped if you reveal what is there, so we have to be careful about this information,” he explained.
But he said he is not against using SALN for investigative stories or helping government agencies conduct an investigation.
“But it can be done if it is an investigative report, if it is something that is being done by government agencies, it can be done. We can provide the SALN. Basta with the proper safeguards lang kasi we also have to protect the people,” he added.
Asked what specific safeguards he has in mind, Remulla said some information can be redacted, especially if it could bring danger to the official or their families.
“Ire-redact ‘yung ibang bagay, commitment not to publish some things which may cause trouble to the people or their families,” he added.
LIFESTYLE CHECK
Remulla also expressed support for including relatives of government officials in the conduct of lifestyle checks.
“Puwede naman. Why not? It should happen,” he added.
He also said the community should be tapped to get information on the lifestyles of government officials and their families.
“I think the community will be the ones to tell us. I think that we can rely on the people of the Philippines to help the government in advocating, in enforcing a lifestyle check. Ang taong bayan ang pwedeng magsabi kung anong nangyayari sa mga paligid nila (It is the people who will tell us what is happening around them),” he said, adding that “the community is a better, a more reliable ally in the fight against corruption in the community itself.”
At the same time, Remulla said if appointed as the next Ombudsman, he will make sure it is not used as a political weapon to go after the enemies of the administration.
“The OMB has to be fair. Hindi naman dapat wine-weaponize. It should never be weaponized,” he added.
OMBUDSMAN CLEARANCE
Remulla has yet to secure an Ombudsman clearance, a mandatory requirement for his nomination to the vacant Office of the Ombudsman, on the last day of the public interview by the Judicial and Bar Council to applicants for the post.
“Not yet. That is why I’m still applying for it,” Remulla told reporters after the JBC interview.
The JBC, which vets nominees for judicial posts, requires applicants to submit a clearance from the Ombudsman certifying they have no pending cases.
Remulla is the subject of a complaint filed by Senator Imee Marcos stemming from his role in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte last March.
Under the JBC’s rules, individuals with “pending criminal or regular administrative cases” are disqualified from being nominated for any judicial post, including the Ombudsman.
Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting said a clearance from the Ombudsman is needed because it is the one prosecuting and investigating our government officials.
“One of the qualifications is probity so that means dapat of good moral standing and of good moral character sila,” she said, adding that Remulla was given until the day of the JBC’s final deliberation to submit his clearance.
“On the day of deliberations for the shortlist, dapat may Ombudsman clearance na ‘yung applicants. If wala pa silang OMB clearance by that day, they cannot be considered, they will not be included in the shortlist,” she explained.
“The due date for the OMB clearance is the final deliberations,” she added.
Under the 1987 Constitution, Malacanang has three months from the vacancy of the post to appoint the next Ombudsman.
Aside from Remulla, retired judge and current PCSO chairperson Felix Reyes, who is also seeking the same post, has yet to secure an Ombudsman clearance.
However, Ting said she is not aware of the case of Reyes.
“We are not aware of the nature of these cases. It would be best to ask the OMB about it,” she added.
