THE Office of the Ombudsman believes there is no law requiring public officials from submitting their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante said yesterday.
Abante, who sponsored the Ombudsman’s P4.98-billion proposed budget for 2024 during the House plenary debates, made the statement on the questioning of Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela), a member of the militant Makabayan bloc.
“Unang una, ang sabi ng ating Ombudsman (First of all, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said), there is actually no law that we should submit the SALN,” Abante told the floor in the presence of Martires who approached the lawmaker from time to time to help him answer concerns raised by other lawmakers.
The issue was discussed when Brosas raised the Ombudsman’s stand on the non-disclosure of SALNs and on conducting lifestyle checks.
Abante, however, said the Office of the Ombudsman can conduct lifestyle checks if authorized by the agency whose members are the subject of the investigation.
“Now, there is no problem, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, na mag-lifestyle check ang Ombudsman (for the Ombudsman to conduct lifestyle checks) if there is any authority given by the agency,” he said.
The submission of SALNs is a requirement under Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713 states: “All public officials and employees, except those who serve in an honorary capacity, laborers and casual or temporary workers, shall file under oath their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth and a Disclosure of Business Interests and Financial Connections and those of their spouses and unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.”
Article XI, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution also provides that, “A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth.”
“In the case of the President, the Vice President, the members of the Cabinet, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the constitutional commissions and other constitutional offices, and officers of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law,” the provision added.
Brosas reminded the Ombudsman of its mandate to ensure that public funds are spent “judiciously.” “In carrying out its Constitutional mandate, we expect the Ombudsman to be more proactive in addressing corruption issues,” she said.
